An exhibition of stories and photos by local media professionals documenting life in the city during Russia’s full-scale invasion opened in Zaporizhzhia on 14 September, organised by the news website SODA. The exhibition, titled “Here and Now: Zaporizhzhia Still Stands” features 14 pieces of material on wartime life in the city, produced by five newsrooms, SODA chief editor Kateryna Rozhdestvenska reported to the Institute of Mass Information’s regional representative in Zaporizhzhia oblast.

An exhibition of media reports about wartime life in the city opened in Zaporizhzhia. Photo shared by Kateryna Rozhdestvenska

The organisers say that the exhibition of five prism-shaped display boards featuring photographs and stories is located on Artists’ Square and has already been open to visitors for two weeks. The stories included were created by the newsrooms Suspilne Zaporizhzhia, 061, Pershyi Zaporizkyi, Inform.Zp, and SODA was included in the exhibition.

“They differ in genre and tone, but they have one thing in common: they were all created here, by people who didn’t leave and didn’t fall silent,” reads the description on the main board.

Kateryna Rozhdestvenska says the exhibition is important for the locals as well as the media professionals. Photo via 061.ua

“This exhibition isn’t just about Zaporizhzhia as a frontline city, or about Zaporizhzhia oblast, of which more than 70% is under occupation, or about the frontline communities and their people. This exhibition is also about just how important journalism is, how important it is to report on the bloody war Russia started, to show not just Ukraine but the world as a whole what’s happening here, right now — to tell the stories of people who’ve had to leave their homes, to talk about what’s happening in Zaporizhzhia, to tell people about the daily air strikes and the tragedies,” Kateryna Rozhdestvenska said.

The exhibition will remain open until 28 September. Each board features photos, captions, and QR codes that visitors can use to access the stories in full.

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The exhibition features 14 stories and photos about the lives of the people and the city in wartime. Photo shared by Kateryna Rozhdestvenska

Rozhdestvenska says that the exhibition features material dating back to the start of the full-scale invasion, as well as stories about the fight against corruption. “This matters, because if money and budgets continue to be embezzled, there won’t be enough left to properly stand up to Russia,” the exhibition’s organiser said.

Kateryna Rozhdestvenska also considers this exhibition to be an expression of solidarity among the journalists of Zaporizhzhia.

Last year, a photo exhibition about the work of Ukrainian journalists in wartime was presented in two locations at the Uppsala University in Sweden.