“Land of non-return” is a project of a photographer Victoria Sorochinski. The photos were taken at Ukrainian villages during the winter and autumn of 2009. Life in villages in such countries as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, etc. is very difficult. Time seems to stand still there. These places, almost untouched by industrial progress, is inhabited by elderly people (women for the most part), since all the young moved to nearby cities. Many of the residents are older than 90. Most of them are unable to take care of their farms. The pensions of these people are so small that are hardly enough for buying bread and milk. In most villages there are no schools, no hospitals, no work, no gas or even water supply…
via bigpicture.ru
I see much grace and dignity in these people. God bless them.
God I feel really sorry for these people, even if they seem used to this life; a little help would’nt hurt.
Remarkable is their age though their hard life; I bet that senior citizens in a western village die much earlier due to health problems, even if their life is easier.
At least these old people are not warehoused away in horrible nursing homes where they get abused by the nurses and orderlies, like they do in America. I don’t really see where people in my country (America) care for their elderly any better.
These people are someone’s father, mother, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandfather, grandmother or maybe as Max said, have no one at all. I would rather be in their company than many of the pretentious, fake and souless people that inhabit the world. They are the salt of the Earth. God Bless them all.
The crosses on the graves are roman-christian so this poor people seems to be Poles in Ukraine or Belarus.
Well, as the post says, most of them are older than 90. I guess that if they lived in the city they could barely reach 70.
Maybe because they live in such conditions (poor, but naturally) is because they lived so long.
Wow. How much these people have seen and been through in their lives. They deserve some help, after all they have done for their country and their people. And Ellen, you are right about old people being warehoused. Not going to happen to me, as long as I can still use my pistol.
Some commenters seem to think all these people are unhappy. They’re obviously not rich in money, but I think they’re content with their lives.
George Johnson: I think you’re totally wrong, but you believe what you’ve been told.
Yeah. Have you ever lived in a socialist state to make that comparison!
Ryt. So I take it you are the worlds leading expert on Russian thinking. And you’ve obviously seen every single one of Russia’s elderly to assume that everyone old is “a third class”. After all its not in the west, but in Russia, that elderly people are penned up in retirement homes by their relatives.
you will see the same in some French villages as well. not the kind of stuff they will show during the Tour de France. it’s the same again with the London riots, stuff happens 365 days a year…and gets swept under the carpet till someone makes a photo collection or a bunch of Tv cameras turn up.
Indeed sad situation – this is clear in almost full Soviet Block, villages are full of lonely old people, Hard to believe that they have families living in cities, who can afford visiting their villages just to pick some supplies, cucumber pickles, Kartoshkas (Potatoes), and for some fresh air – before leaving these Old parents alone once again. Not all Old people are below poverty, but still its hard to keep houses warm in winters, as gas prices are more and pensions are so low. Governments need to do more to preserve legacy of their past comrades.
George I don’t know what planet you spend the majority of your time living on but it’s not this one and it’s not the United States.
This is the progress, the modern life: moving into the city, abandoning the lands, sadness for whom stay, anonymity and uprooting for the city newcomers
What sad,terrible circumstances…Something similar,I expect,awaits the elderly here (US),given the high level of greed and lack of compassion……