Photographer Camiel Mudde's photo series Life after Occupation explores the long-lasting effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mudde ventured into various Ukrainian regions, capturing the devastating aftermath of war through his lens. Despite facing challenges such as lack of electricity and relying on food aid, locals like Valia, a 78-year-old woman, remain resolute in their determination to restore their community. Camiel's poignant imagery captures the resilience and suffering of these individuals, offering insight into Ukraine's path to recovery.

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Published in issue #2 2024, Human Narratives

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Camiel Mudde: On February 24, 2022, Russia's neighbouring country invaded Ukraine. To this day, the invasion causes enormous destruction, deaths, trauma and suffering. How is Ukraine doing now, one year after the invasion of Russia? With this question, I boarded a plane to Poland on February 12, 2023, and arrived in Ukraine by train a day later. For a little over two weeks, I travelled through Ukraine with my fixer, Kateryna. We visited cities and villages in different parts of the country, spoke to people about their experiences, and saw with our own eyes the devastation caused by the war.

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One of the few returnees, 78-year-old Valia, had to clean her house of the traces of the Russian occupation. Without electricity, she now lives on wood-burning stoves and candlelight, dependent on food aid. The village is a sad reminder of the grim reality of war. Despite this, the returned inhabitants are motivated to rebuild the village and rebuild their lives in it.

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About

Camiel Mudde, a 22-year-old photographer from the Netherlands, graduated from the University of Applied Photography in Rotterdam in 2022. Despite his age, Camiel is resolute in his pursuit of covering international news and social issues. Guided by his passion for photography and a deep curiosity about the human narrative, he has already been led to some intriguing places where Camiel captures reality. The power of images to arouse emotions and tell stories has always fascinated Camiel. As a dedicated photojournalist, his mission is to employ the power of photography to document crucial events and societal matters, sharing them with the world.

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www.camielmudde.nl