Vernadsky station polar explorers open photo exhibition about Russia's war in Ukraine
Фото: Фейсбук / Національний антарктичний науковий центр
A photo exhibition about the full-scale war in Ukraine was opened at the Ukrainian Antarctic research station Akademik Vernadsky.
Rubryka writes about this, referring to the Facebook page of the National Antarctic Science Center.
According to the researchers, the author of the exhibition is Kyiv photographer Kostyantyn Polishchuk, who has been defending Ukraine at the front for more than two years.
The NASC noted that from 2016 to 2019, Polishchuk worked in the Ministry of Education and Science press service, repeatedly filmed farewells and meetings of Ukrainian Antarctic expeditions, and always admired the work of polar explorers and dreamed of visiting the icy continent one day.
Photo: Facebook / National Antarctic Science Center
On February 26, 2022, two days after the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the photographer joined the Kyiv Territorial Defense Forces. He first defended the north of the capital from the Russian invaders, then fought in the east of Ukraine, participated in the liberation of Kherson, counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region,
battles in the Lyman and Kharkiv areas.
Photo: Facebook / National Antarctic Science Center
Photo: Facebook / National Antarctic Science Center
Polishchuk was a rifleman, then a grenade launcher in a fire support company, engaged in aerial reconnaissance in the Airborne Assault Forces, and now serves in the anti-tank guided missile company of the National Guard of Ukraine.
In his free time, he takes pictures. Through his lens, he shows everything about the war: from a soldier lying at the bottom of a captured Russian trench, hiding from the explosions of guided bombs to salted fish from volunteers next to an AK-74 machine gun.
Photo: Facebook / National Antarctic Science Center
Photo: Facebook / National Antarctic Science Center
"15 photos were transferred this year to the Vernadsky station during the expeditions change. On the eve of Midwinter, the main holiday of Antarctic researchers, an exhibition was opened at the station. It will work here permanently," the polar explorers reported.
As geophysicist Yurii Otruba, the leader of the 29th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition, noted, "We have no right to forget, thanks to whom we can continue our Antarctic mission and develop Ukrainian science."
Photo: Facebook / National Antarctic Science Center
This exhibition will be another reminder for everyone that a war is going on in Ukraine. It is about the polar explorers themselves and about the station's guests, of whom there are many during the Antarctic summer — they are tourists and ship crews from all over the world, Antarctic researchers from other countries.
The head of the expedition also emphasized that everyone would be introduced to the exhibition.
"Especially for foreign visitors, we made all photo captions and information about the author in English in advance," noted Otruba.
As reported, on June 21, Antarctic researchers worldwide celebrate Midwinter.
Midwinter is the celebration of when the icy continent has its shortest day and longest night, but then the days slowly grow longer, and summer draws nearer and nearer.
