Life Under
The Ukraine

In the years following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine emerged as an independent nation in 1991, still grappling with the lingering effects of Soviet-era systems. By 2010, just 19 years into independence, the country was undergoing profound social and political transformation—yet was still deeply marked by economic instability, institutional collapse, and systemic neglect of vulnerable populations.

One of the most devastating consequences of this instability was the crisis facing Ukraine’s youth. It was approximately estimated 300,000 children were living on the streets. These children—some abandoned, others fleeing abuse, poverty, or institutional failure—formed a largely invisible underclass. Many fell into cycles of drug addiction, exploitation, crime, and even early parenthood, raising a new generation of children born into marginalization.

While Ukraine’s orphan crisis was especially visible at this time, it was not unique. Globally, over 140 million children were estimated to be living without stable homes—orphans of poverty, war, and systemic neglect.

This body of work, created between 2010 and 2012, was produced through a nonprofit initiative I founded, Opportunity4Life, in affiliation with UNICEF. The mission of the project was to raise awareness and generate funds to support shelters and facilities that provide care, safety, and long-term rehabilitation for Ukraine’s vulnerable youth.

As a photojournalist, my intent was not simply to expose suffering, but to create a visual record of survival, resilience, and the emotional complexity of childhood lived on the margins.