In the previous post, we explored a recently established physical archive and research center. However, such institutions can also be arranged in the virtual and digital space and house documents and images from more recent times, and focus on historical events and on promoting information, justice, and freedom. There are for instance sites that act as platforms to collect materials on the war in Ukraine, such as the Ukraine War Archive and the Ukrainian Warchive.
The former was created by a joint team comprising NGO Docudays and Infoscope (NGO Docudays is a Ukrainian organisation that runs Docudays UA, the biggest human rights documentary film festival in Eastern Europe; Infoscope is a UK non-commercial organisation which develops and implements technological solutions for data archiving and analysis); the latter is a collaboration between Ukrainian journalists and photographers. Both document the Russian occupation and war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine since February 24, 2022.
The Ukraine War Archive compiles various digital materials gathered during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including daily events, potential war crimes, audiovisual records from public sources, data on Russian military deployments, research and investigation findings, and a database of Russian propaganda and the development of pro-Russian narratives. The evidence is meticulously organized within its database to safeguard historical accuracy and ensure a fair representation of events in both legal and public discourse.
The primary objective of the archive is to preserve and share materials - such as photographs, narratives, and audiovisual recordings - related to the Russian invasion, while also supporting professional photographers documenting the events in Ukraine. Its founders aspire to establish a unified platform capable of filtering, verifying, and storing visual content about the war, thus preserving invaluable testimonies and providing a reliable resource for media, public organizations, curators, and investigators. Additionally, it serves as a means to safeguard Ukrainian culture against Russian disinformation efforts and potential manipulation of facts, while also supplying information for fighting in the media, cultural, and legal fields.
Contributions to the Ukraine War Archive can be made through various channels, including a dedicated online form, Telegram, or email. Witnesses also have the option to provide firsthand accounts of their experiences in person. Materials undergo scrutiny and are tagged with keywords for easy categorization and retrieval. These interviews, conducted in collaboration with human rights activists, psychologists, and legal experts, serve as crucial evidence for legal proceedings. So far the platform has amassed a significant collection - 20M of media files, 34,000 recordings, over 2,100 interviews, and registered 36,000 events and potential war crimes.
Access to the archive can be obtained after a background check and authorization and adherence to cyber security protocols, with varying levels of access to ensure protection of personal data and sensitive information. But once users gain access, they can create their own collections of selected materials and export them for external use.
Supported by the European Union's House of Europe program, the Swedish Institute, and the Hasselblad Foundation, the Ukrainian Warchive preserves documentary materials about the war in Ukraine, but also supports professional photographers covering the events in Ukraine. This platform offers a user-friendly interactive platform that allows users to browse the large collection of photographs by date, place, author, and subject.
Quite often the materials are accompanied by personal anecdotes and memories, and the images document resilience and devastation, civilian resistance, daily realities during wartime, and instances of solidarity. Notable examples include images depicting the liberation of Bucha by Ukrainian forces, destroyed buildings and poignant scenes of civilian suffering and loss, including mass graves.
The first book from this digital photo archive, titled "13 Stories of War," will be released on February 21st. Curated by photographers Misha Pedan and Emine Ziyatdinova, this publication features visual essays by Ukrainian photographers and artists reflecting on the profound impact of war since the Russian invasion.
The essays offer a nuanced perspective on themes of strength, loss, and hope, contributing to a deeper understanding of the human experience amid conflict. On February 21st, "13 Stories of War" will be presented at the Hasselblad Center at the Gothenburg Museum of Art.
An archive is an invaluable repository of knowledge, but these ones documenting the conflict in Ukraine, also shine a light on the realities of war, provide platforms for individuals to share their stories and ensure that their experiences are not forgotten or overlooked, playing a crucial role in upholding human rights.
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