They Were Not Soldiers

This curated project shares photographs and personal perspectives from the Ukrainian front lines, focusing on the lived experiences of those often reduced to a single label. Through their own images, it explores how fathers, daughters, and ordinary people cope, survive, and hold onto humanity in extraordinary circumstances.

From the Frontlines to Home: Rick, Luna, and Black



Three little souls, each with their own story of war and home.


Rick the dog. Luna, the white cat brought from the Zaporizhzhia direction. Black, the black cat brought from the Donetsk region.


Rescued along the frontlines, now safe with the parents of a defender – a small, warm reminder that even in the darkest places, life, care, and love endure.

-Commander Serhii Kashyrin, Gimli Division