Through the lens
Right to Defend, Right to Resist
Before the war, many Ukrainian civilians joined local Territorial Defence Units. Today, they are fighting to protect their country.
Photos—Sasha Maslov
In January, Ukraine invited its citizens to receive military training in case of a Russian invasion. Many ordinary people joined local Territorial Defence Units. Today, they are fighting to protect their country.
In his series “Right to Defend, Right to Resist,” Sasha Maslov photographed some of these recruits in the run-up to the war.
Maryana Zhaglo, 52, is a marketing analyst from Kyiv. “This is my country, I was born here and I want to be ready to defend it,” she says.
Borys Cherkas, 45, a teacher and historian, is proud to be part of a cohort of mature recruits: ”It should be older folks taking the punch.”
Yuriy Boyko, 68, served in the Soviet Army for two decades, then ran his own IT firm. Now he’s part of the Ukrainian resistance.
«For these ordinary Ukrainians, being prepared for the worst-case scenario turned out to be the best way to look forward to a new day.», says Sasha Maslov
Sasha Maslov is a Ukrainian-American portrait photographer and storyteller based in New York City. His work has been exhibited in various photo galleries and art spaces around Europe and the United States. Sasha is a regular contributor to a number of magazines and leading publications in New York and around the globe, and is actively pursuing work on his documentary projects.
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