Source: City of Portsmouth
A fallen solder’s photographs of the war in Ukraine will go on display at Portsmouth’s Central Library in Guildhall from Monday 24 February.
The ‘Souls and Bodies: Photographs by a fallen Ukrainian hero’ exhibition will run from 24 to 27 February 2025, and showcase striking images taken by Volodymyr Rakov, a 30-year-old soldier killed in battle.
His friend, fellow Ukrainian national Olya Andrushko, is hosting the exhibition alongside Hotwalls Studios.
Olya, who lives in Portsmouth, approached the council about displaying her friend’s pictures, which offer a glimpse of life on the frontline and focus on soldiers and animals in warzones.
Olya said: “This exhibition is not about death, it is about life. Even in the darkest times, my friend found beauty.
“He tried to save every animal he encountered, some of them are now safe because of him. He had the most beautiful and creative heart, and I am grateful he kept a place in it for me.”
According to Olya, Volodymyr was a well-known dancer in Kiev before he volunteered for the Ukrainian army in 2013, shortly before Russia’s invasion of Crimea, where Volodymyr was born.
“He was a strong man, a dancer, a photographer, a great warrior,” Olya added.
The exhibition opens on Monday 24 February on what is the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 in a major escalation of the war.
Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: “I hope people will come and see this fascinating exhibition of photographs at Central Library, which shine a light on life on the frontline of the bloody war in Ukraine which is still going on.”
To mark the anniversary, a public flag-raising ceremony is being held outside the Civic Officers in Guildhall square at 11am by the Lord Mayor, which is open for residents to join.