The Island of Crimea
When I was a child, Crimea always seemed like a sacred, apolitical place, an island with distinctive mythology and traces of ancient civilizations. Here I saw the sea for the first time. In 1793, a land where different cultures and beliefs intersected became a part of the Russian Empire.
Crimea turned from Tsar residence to resort accessible to any soviet citizen in USSR. The peninsula became a part of Ukraine after USSR collapsed, and was incorporated into Russian territory in March 2014. Crimea happened to be in the centre of political disagreements.
The sense of isolation has been increased even more by sanctions and particular restrictions. Politics has invaded the world of childhood and local mythology.
The wild beach at Cape Meganom is a popular place among nudists and spiritual practices lovers.
Sudak District, Cape Meganom.
Abandoned art-installations in the Popovka village, where the "Kazantip" festival was held from 1993 to 2013.
Popovka village.
A child rests in the campsite at Cape Fiolent. Cape is popular among those who enjoy spiritual practices and the "wild" style of tourism.
Cape Meganom, Sevastopol.
Wine tasting at the "Novy Svet" factory.
Novy Svet village.
Niyar Bekirova was deported from the Crimea to Uzbekistan in 1944.
Two hundred thousand Crimean Tatars were forced to leave the peninsula following Stalin's decree.
Yevpatoria.
The prom celebration in a cafe.
Armyansk.
The boy is inside the attraction with artificial snow in the amusement part.
Kerch.
The annual celebration of the Day of the liberation of Yevpatoria from the nazi- german troops in WWII.
Yevpatoria.
Holocaust Remembrance Day in the Jewish cafe by Synagogue. Yevpatoria.
Bather at the city beach.
Yevpatoria.
There are amateur telescopes for the night sky observation at the Crimean astrophysical observatory.
Nauchniy village.
Cadet of the Nakhimov Navy school.
Sevastopol.
Disco in one of the cafes at the waterfront.
Sudak.
The "Golitsyn trail" is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Crimea. Novy Svet village.
The sculpture of "Chernomor" (Russian folk tale heroic character) at the waterfront.
Yevpatoria.
