Ukraine: A Nation Waits

 A man with one of the self-defense units that protect Kiev's Maidan, Independence Square, sits in his tent near a small fire to stay warm.  Many in the square are paying close attention to the situation in Crimea and fear what is to come for Ukraine.
 A woman carries flowers as she looks over a memorial at one of the blockaded entrances to Kiev's Maidan, Independence Square.
 A young girl stands near one of the memorials for a opposition protester killed in clashes near one of the entrances to the Maidan.
 A single flower hangs from a shield as a memorial to a fallen protester.
 A young girl stands near a piece on exhibit in M17 Contemporary Art Center in Kiev.  The exhibit "The Flame of Love, Dedicated to the Maidan Artists" features work from artists who witnessed the dramatic events of this winter in Ukraine and created works from their experiences.
 Vladuslav Bitkovskuy, 31, an archeologist by trade, now heads a small division of one of the Maidan's self-defense units.  Bitkovskuy says he will continue to protect the Maidan until, "the structure of power is strong, social services work, people who beat people and are responsible for killing and kidnapping are brought to court."
 A woman walks from a barricaded entrance to Kiev's Maidan near a sign that reads: “Mr Putin, you can lie to your own people and humiliate my self-confidence, break my bones, and you can even kill me. However, you cannot take my freedom.”
 A cross hangs from a spot where bullets from a sniper still mark a light pole.
 Members of one of the self-defense units that protect Kiev's Maidan sit near a tent.
 People gather as musicians sing traditional Ukrainian music on a stage.  
 A man with one of the self-defense units stands near a line of people waiting for food as night falls on the square.
 A person stands near a piece on exhibit in M17 Contemporary Art Center in Kiev.
 Elizabeth Bielska, artistic director of M17 Contemporary Art Center in Kiev, says "The Maidan was our war. The United States, Great Britain and Russia, they are the guardians of our borders."
 Artist Boris Yeghiazaryan stands near his work on exhibit in M17 Contemporary Art Center in Kiev.  
 A man with one of the self-defense units sleeps in his tent.
 Kiev's Maidan, Independence Square, was a beautiful destination for tourists and now is a burnt-out remnant of what it once was.
 A Ukranian man lights his pipe as he sits in Kiev's Maidan.
A woman looks over a memorial at one of the blockaded entrances to Kiev's Independence Square.

To read more about the situation in Ukraine read Betsy Hiel's reporting in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
Justin Merriman

Justin Merriman is a freelance photojournalist, commercial photographer, licensed drone pilot, and filmmaker based in Pittsburgh. His career began in Southwestern Pennsylvania, where he worked as a newspaper photographer dedicated to community storytelling and politics. Since then, his work has been recognized with regional, national, and international awards and has appeared in publications around the world.

After covering the crash of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on September 11, 2001, Merriman committed to documenting the U.S. military’s War on Terror, reporting from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and across the United States. His international assignments have also included life in Fidel Castro’s Cuba, India’s campaign to eradicate polio, the aftermath of Haiti’s 2010 earthquake, Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Cuba in 2012, the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis in Rome, the second anniversary of Egypt’s revolution, Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea, and the uncertain future of Guantanamo Bay in 2015. That same year, he traveled the full U.S.–Mexico border to document immigration issues.

In addition to photography, Merriman works as a director and filmmaker, creating recent films on refugees in Turkey, Jordan, India, and South Africa.

Closer to home, he frequently covers stories across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, focusing on the intersections of economic, environmental, and political life. Most recently, he reported on the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and its impact on the community.

Born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Merriman graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg with a B.A. in English Writing. In 2009, the university awarded him its prestigious Alumnus of Distinction award. He is a founding member of Argo Collective, a group of photographers sharing diverse visions of America. He lives outside Pittsburgh with his wife, Stephanie Strasburg, a photojournalist with PublicSource.

http://www.justinmerriman.com
Previous
Previous

Ukraine: A Walk Through Maidan

Next
Next

Ukraine: The Maidan