You Cannot Change Your Skin

I travelled to Ukraine in January this year, alone and unfunded, to photograph the build up to Russia’s invasion. My original aim was to photograph what life was like for a people in the south east of Ukraine living under the weight of an impending war. After being captivated by the humanity I saw after it began, and as my love of the country grew, I stayed to document life in the country during a time of war. From being a country that thought the threat of war was part of a game, overnight Ukraine became the most unified and selfless place I have ever seen. Its people continue to show a remarkable resilience, kindness and strength as they fight for their freedom and the right to make their own choices about their future. As a result travelling the country, volunteering and delivering aid, the commissions I did, and my own experiences, I came incredibly close to the stories that have defined this period in Ukraine. This selection of images from You Cannot Change Your Skin serves as an archive of this time.