In the current day, Ukraine finds itself in a time of great hardship and sadness, with families being displaced from their homes, and the forces of Russia constantly working to destroy their way of life as they know it. However, even with a war raging on, the Ukrainian youth still find ways to push back against the forces of evil, through art. Countless people throughout the whole country are working to tell their personal stories through their amazing work. As said in an article on Children’s War Art by Libby Eggemeier, “Despite the abject violence and displacement they endure, Ukrainian children are persevering through their art.”(Eggemeier 1). Before you can understand the further impact that the art has made on the regular citizens of Ukraine, herefirst is a brief history of the Russia/Ukraine war so far. 

The war began four years ago in 2022 when a full scale invasion was launched by Russia, initially occupying 119,000 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) of Ukrainian territory. Today, Russia still occupies roughly 120,000 to 126,645 square kilometers of Ukraine, and the attacks don’t show signs of stopping. The approximate amount of casualties from the war is 500,000-600,000 and the amount of deaths from the war ranges from 55,000 to 600,000, though it is hard to know for sure. Around five million people have already become refugees with over 3.7 million of them still displaced within the country. The war has had devastating impacts on Ukrainian people, wildlife and infrastructure, and Russia is still making slow, constant advancements farther into Ukrainian territory.

Despite all of this, Ukrainian artwork is still being made, and its impacts are reaching farther than the artist probably ever believed was possible. There was a gallery, not too long ago, located right here in Nevada City. It showed pieces from many different people, most of them not older than anyone who goes to this school. Along with the art, there were amazing artist’s statements, outlining what it meant for each artist to be creating the art that they are and how it is important to them. This gallery was put on by an organization in Nevada City and proceeds go directly to associations that help support Ukrainians in these hard times and share their art with our little town thousands of miles from where it was madethousands of miles from where it was made to our little town. The whole gallery was truly an amazing experience and such an incredible thing to show to everyone in this area.

Now, you may wonder to yourself “how on earth-amidst all of this destruction and hardship-could people, some not even in their teens, still find a way to continue to make their lives beautiful?” And I believe that the answer is quite simple, the people of Ukraine have a spirit that can not be dimmed, they have an unstoppable force inside them that wills them to continue to create. It is that amazing power that keeps hope for them alive, it shows us that anyone-no matter the situation-still has the ability to make something that touches people’s hearts and makes them believe that there is more to the world than just suffering.