At the important global cultural event Rotterdam Art Week, the exhibition Ukraine Contrast was presented, created with the participation of photographs by nine Ukrainian photographers working on the theme of war.

In the Netherlands, at  
Rotterdam Art Week , among others, historical photographs by the metropolitan photographer Ruslan Borovik, who fought and captured moments of the war from its first days in various regions.

His photographs of the heroic defense of Donetsk Airport in 2014-2015 are known throughout the world.

During his lifetime, the defender was fond of photography: he took the first shots of the defense of Donetsk airport, filmed his comrades and the war from the inside. After returning to civilian life, Ruslan photographed events with the participation of veterans and their families, and always knew how to catch “the same shot.”

Years earlier, over a hundred of the defender’s photographs were presented at an exhibition in the Verkhovna Rada, and he also exhibited his works in the Hall of Columns of the Kyiv City State Administration. At that time, the heroes of his photos were grieving mothers who lost their sons and soldiers returning to life after serious injuries.

Unfortunately, on April 29, 2022, the warrior-hero Ruslan Borovik died liberating the Kharkiv region. But his works “live” to this day.

Ruslan Borovik’s photos were donated to Strong Through Art by his wife, Lyudmila Borovik.

“I thank volunteer Frank Klassen and Diana Chavdar, organizers of the Ukraine Contrast exhibition, for their interest in Ruslan’s photos. It is very important to show the world that the war in Ukraine continues, that many Ukrainian defenders died defending their land. Ruslan also died, but the memory of him will live forever in his photos. His photo chronicle will not lose its relevance and, I hope, will be presented in many more countries. By the way, the funds from the four sold photos will go to the Strong Through Art fund, which supports, among others, the Ukrainian public organization Tabletochki,” Lyudmila Borovyk, the wife of the deceased, told a journalist for Vecherny Kyiv.

Cyborg is well known in the capital: he actively supported the families of the fallen defenders and worked at the Kyiv City Center for Assistance to ATO Veterans under the Kyiv City State Administration.

The publication “Evening Kyiv” prepared the story of the life and military career of Ruslan Borovyk for the Pantheon of Heroes from the memoirs of his wife, brothers, colleagues, and friends.

For many, he was an indomitable patriot, but few knew him from another side: how he rode a wheelchair to work, chose dresses for his daughters, cooked the most delicious borscht, and dreamed of walking around the world…

Snezhana BOZHOK , “Evening Kyiv”