Den’s Days, which started in the city on the Dnipro River on February 19, have turned out to be surprisingly balanced with regard to their intellectual and emotional content. First of all, there was a mutually interesting conversation that saw Larysa Ivshyna talking with students, faculty members, and public figures of the city at the National Mining University (NMU).
In her speech, Ivshyna stressed that Den/The Day was established two decades ago having as its main objective aiding the formation of civil society in Ukraine. According to her, Ukrainian society of the mid-1990s “was politically naive, but open” to the processes of transformation, despite its post-colonial and post-totalitarian legacy. “Den never forgot its purpose, and intellectuals rallied around our publication all the time. They included people like famous Ukrainian philosopher and cultural scholar Serhii Krymsky and American Holodomor researcher James Mace,” Ivshyna said. This prompted us to launch Den’s Library as well, which already includes dozens of books dealing with the history of Ukraine and current political events. Presenting to the NMU’s students and faculty members bestsellers we published, Ivshyna cited a case in point: when a soldier of the Azov Regiment visited our office to buy Den’s books and subscribe to the newspaper, he talked to the staff noting that frontline soldiers needed precisely publications reflecting “Den’s perspective,” as it was both patriotic and civically conscious. “We have chosen the right direction of movement, as we must unite in the ‘national team’ all people who want to take responsibility for the fate of this country. Many people say that we need to take stock of what happened in Ukraine over these two decades. Den started this stock-taking with our first books, which showed that Russia will target Ukraine again as soon as it will feel like it has resolved its internal issues. I disagree that it was impossible to imagine a war with Russia, since the war was prepared by the whole course of history. One had to be very naive, like we were, to allow the disarmament to happen,” Ivshyna said.
By decision of the NMU’s Senate, the school’s rector presented Den/The Day’s editor-in-chief Ivshyna with the university’s Badge of Gratitude award and a gift of his own – his photo album, edited by the academician’s spouse Halyna, who is a journalist by trade. It was no accident, but rather a meaningful hint, because Den’s Photo Exhibition opened immediately after the meeting hosted by the NMU.
The meeting saw young Luhansk journalist Valentyn Torba, who won the James Mace Award past year, speaking to the NMU’s students. His book I, an Eyewitness came as the result of personal observations of the tragic events in the Donbas, the region which was left to the tender mercies of people related to the clan-oligarchic system back under Leonid Kuchma. According to Torba, all this has led to the Donbas, where at one time the majority of the population voted for independence of Ukraine, becoming a hotbed of separatism. The journalist believes that the return of the occupied territories must begin with the struggle for people’s minds and souls.
Den’s Photo Exhibition aroused great interest among the residents of Dnipropetrovsk.
“These photos are astonishingly powerful with the power of the spirit, the power of look. They probably should not be even called photos, but rather paintings that convey emotional suffering and mental anxiety of people who see this day, this minute, this moment. And the eyes of these people do not lie. The eyes of children are especially impressive. Such exhibitions should be held more frequently. Let our youth learn from these photos how to build a better life,” shared her impressions Natalia Kostiuk, a member of the NMU’s faculty.
Another visitor, a well-known civic volunteer and archpriest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate), prior of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church Father Dmytro, who often visits the ATO area, saw the exhibition as very interesting. “Some things that I saw from inside before, I have now seen from the outside and through the eyes of others as well. I know personally many people on these pictures, both soldiers and refugees. I think that this exhibition is must-see for those who do not know what is going on in the Donbas,” he said.
“I was very impressed by the photos on display. Some of them make people smile, while others bring tears to visitors’ eyes. My husband did his duty there, at the front, and thank God, came back alive. We lived through that year, but it was very difficult,” architect Olha said, looking sad.
“I will likely come to the exhibition again,” the Transport University’s faculty member Hryhorii Ivashchenko told us. “I will do so because these photos need a careful viewing, one has to stand in front of them and think. For me, the Donbas is not just a word. After World War II, my father was assigned to work there on graduating from a trade school. He worked underground for five years. Therefore, these reports from the front, names of localities being fought over, sound to me like the memory of my father and of his childhood. My friends serve at the front now. It was interesting to look at the latest works by my friends, for example, Oleksandr Klymenko. When thinking about Den, I think about the publication that wrote about me, my work, and the Ukrainian room we opened at the Transport University, and this coverage was readable and top-quality. I will definitely bring my students to the photo exhibition soon.”
Some responses were very emotional. “The exhibition has made an extremely powerful impression on me, I cannot even say which emotion prevails, I guess it is pain and pride at the same time, because these faces radiate power. We will win. I believe in Ukraine, I believe that we will become independent and free. Glory to Ukraine!”
And now, let us turn to the impression the visit to Dnipropetrovsk made on Den’s editor-in-chief. “Dnipro was fantastic!... For the first time ever, I saw a long queue lined at the entrance to the gallery where our exhibition was held. I am astounded by this sincere expression of interest and warm feelings!... One of our readers brought a jar of honey from his apiary to reinvigorate our staffers, and added a bag of rose hips he had gathered himself...! I love you!” Ivshyna posted on Facebook.
