This photo project tells the story of the village of Toporivtsi, once part of the border between the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires and later a site along the front line. Today, the village is informally divided into two parts: one with an old Ukrainian church, which once served as a refuge from invaders, and the other with a church of the Russian Patriarchate.
During the expedition, I had the opportunity to meet the locals and learn their stories. They eagerly shared memories of the village’s past and their everyday reality. This experience became not only an exploration of the place but also a journey of self-discovery and understanding of my own identity. The importance of preserving such villages lies not only in preserving history but also in how these places shape our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world.
