Indefinite Stay
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Indefinite Stay [ongoing project]
Germany, 2025
War is often reduced to headlines, statistics, and distant analyses, but behind those numbers are millions of individuals whose lives have been disrupted, forced to start over in unfamiliar places while trying to preserve their identity, culture, and dignity. This long-term documentary project focuses on these overlooked human stories – the everyday moments of adaptation, resilience, and continuity that reveal what it truly means to rebuild a life after losing everything.
Kostiantyn, a leader from PLAST (the Ukrainian scout association), plays games with Ukrainian children in the Eilenriede city forest park in Hanover. Kostiantyn and Tetiana (not pictured), as well as most PLAST leaders, spend their free time and personal funds to obtain the necessary qualifications to volunteer as PLAST leaders.
Kostiantyn’s and Tetiana’s motivation is deeply rooted in a desire to spend time with the younger Ukrainian generation and teach them about their culture, traditions, and language. As many children in exile begin see less of their culture and begin to speak less Ukrainian over time, there’s a growing risk of them losing touch with their cultural identity. Volunteers like Kostiantyn and Tetiana aim to counteract this by creating spaces where Ukrainian heritage is actively remembered.
Svitlana Yatchenko, coordinator of courses and leisure activities in the Ukrainian Association of Lower Saxony (UVNEV).
UVNEV is a place where Ukrainian refugees receive support with bureaucracy, job searching, and other practical matters. Children come here to take part in clubs, courses, educational programs, and various activities. For many refugees, it’s a vital organisation that helps them with starting and building up their lives in a new, foreign country.
UVNEV is a place where Ukrainian refugees receive support with bureaucracy, job searching, and other practical matters. Children come here to take part in clubs, courses, educational programs, and various activities. For many refugees, it’s a vital organisation that helps them with starting and building up their lives in a new, foreign country.
Katharina and Tetiana, leaders from PLAST, organise a workshop on traditional Ukrainian egg painting for Ukrainian children in Hanover.
The children learned the traditional wax-resist technique known as Pysanka, where symbolic patterns like suns, flowers, and waves are drawn with beeswax and layered with vivid dyes, a method recently recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage. The aim of the workshop is preserving Ukrainian traditions abroad, but also spending time together in a familiar environment, because shared cultural practices can provide stability, emotional support, and a sense of belonging for people who have been displaced by war.
Play “At the limit” from the Theater Theatromania 2.0 in Hanover, directed by Ukrainian director Anton Telbizov.
Some scenes were performed without words, others in Ukrainian, while an abstract introduction before each scene was presented in German. Since the actors and the director can no longer perform in Ukraine, they are continuously adapting their artistic expression to new audiences, languages, and cultural contexts.
Sergiy was a history and law teacher in Ukraine. After the war began, he joined the army and was later injured.
An external forearm fixator was placed on his arm, where it remained for several months – longer than medically recommended – due to a lack of capacity and personnel in the Ukrainian health system. He was told his options were to keep the fixator or undergo amputation, neither of which he accepted. After searching for alternatives, Sergiy secured a place in a medical transfer program that brings injured Ukrainian civilians and soldiers to hospitals in other European countries for specialized treatment. He is now being treated in Hanover, where his health has improved.
Oksana (standing) is from Ukraine and has been practicing traditional Ukrainian embroidery for over 15 years, earning the title of “master.” Since relocating to Germany, she has been leading the embroidery group “Ptaschetschka” at the Lister Turm community center in Hanover, where she teaches Ukrainian women to reconnect with their cultural heritage.
For many participants, the sessions offer not only practical skills and a deeper understanding of tradition, but also emotional support, as they share personal stories and experiences while they work.
For many participants, the sessions offer not only practical skills and a deeper understanding of tradition, but also emotional support, as they share personal stories and experiences while they work.
The baptism of Kateryna's sons (Kateryna is seated behind the man in the middle). Her husband, currently serving as a soldier at the front, was unable to attend in person and joined the ceremony via video call.
According to priest Roman Maksymtsiv (right), such situations have become common since the beginning of the war, as many families are separated across different countries and haven't seen each other in months or even years. Video calls have become a way to stay connected and take part in important family moments despite the distance.
According to priest Roman Maksymtsiv (right), such situations have become common since the beginning of the war, as many families are separated across different countries and haven't seen each other in months or even years. Video calls have become a way to stay connected and take part in important family moments despite the distance.
Anton Telbizov, theater and film actor, director, and founder of several Ukrainian and international theater projects. He is the artistic lead of the Theater “Theatromania 2.0” at Kulturhaus in Hanover.
Originally from Mariupol, where he co-founded “Teatromania”, he continues to create productions in exile. Under his direction, Theatromania 2.0 has staged more than 20 projects across Germany and abroad in 2023 alone, offering a platform for creative expression, cultural preservation, and community building for displaced Ukrainians.
Originally from Mariupol, where he co-founded “Teatromania”, he continues to create productions in exile. Under his direction, Theatromania 2.0 has staged more than 20 projects across Germany and abroad in 2023 alone, offering a platform for creative expression, cultural preservation, and community building for displaced Ukrainians.
Children and their leaders from PLAST at the start of their meeting. During such meetings everyone speaks only Ukrainian.
One of the leaders shared that her son now mostly speaks German or English, since he attends school in Hanover, and uses Ukrainian only at home – a situation she fears could gradually lead to him losing their native language. These meetings aim to counteract that by helping children stay connected to their cultural roots through traditional dance, Ukrainian songs, and, most importantly, a sense of community.
One of the leaders shared that her son now mostly speaks German or English, since he attends school in Hanover, and uses Ukrainian only at home – a situation she fears could gradually lead to him losing their native language. These meetings aim to counteract that by helping children stay connected to their cultural roots through traditional dance, Ukrainian songs, and, most importantly, a sense of community.
Oksana Shuliar, born in Ukraine, began practicing embroidery as a way to understand the meaning behind the traditional shirts worn by her grandmother.
What started as curiosity became a lifelong dedication to research, practice, and teaching. She led workshops across villages and cultural institutions in her home region before moving her work online and to Germany. For her, embroidery is not only cultural heritage – it is resistance, continuity, and a way to restore what history tried to erase. She now lives in Hanover.
What started as curiosity became a lifelong dedication to research, practice, and teaching. She led workshops across villages and cultural institutions in her home region before moving her work online and to Germany. For her, embroidery is not only cultural heritage – it is resistance, continuity, and a way to restore what history tried to erase. She now lives in Hanover.
Ukrainian Greek Catholic Personal Parish of St. Volodymyr in Hanover.
In the corner of the church nave, boxes of humanitarian aid are stacked – part of a wide-reaching support network organised by the parish since the start of the full-scale invasion. With the help of German partners and dozens of volunteers, the parish has sent ambulances, medical equipment, and essential supplies to hospitals and communities across Ukraine. What began as a small faith community has grown into a vital humanitarian hub, led by Father Roman Maksymtsiv and supported by his wife Mariya, who personally accompanies many of the transports to Ukraine.
In the corner of the church nave, boxes of humanitarian aid are stacked – part of a wide-reaching support network organised by the parish since the start of the full-scale invasion. With the help of German partners and dozens of volunteers, the parish has sent ambulances, medical equipment, and essential supplies to hospitals and communities across Ukraine. What began as a small faith community has grown into a vital humanitarian hub, led by Father Roman Maksymtsiv and supported by his wife Mariya, who personally accompanies many of the transports to Ukraine.
An Ukrainian woman and Julia Harmeling, consultant, reviewing the woman’s CV after repeated job rejections.
They are pictured following the course “Intercultural Communication & Conflict Resolution”, which was attended by many Ukrainian women aiming to better understand German culture, particularly in professional settings. Julia works at Leibniz University Hannover in the Department for International Students. In addition, she leads courses that support refugees in navigating life and work in Germany.
They are pictured following the course “Intercultural Communication & Conflict Resolution”, which was attended by many Ukrainian women aiming to better understand German culture, particularly in professional settings. Julia works at Leibniz University Hannover in the Department for International Students. In addition, she leads courses that support refugees in navigating life and work in Germany.
Member of an Ukrainian Choir.
Mother Kateryna (left) shortly before the baptism of her two sons – she holds one in her arms, while the other is held by a friend (center).
Like many Ukrainian families affected by the war, they are missing a father: her husband is serving at the front. The absence of fathers has become a painful reality for many, leaving mothers to carry the weight of everyday life and important milestones alone. Such moments reflect both the emotional toll of separation and the quiet strength needed to maintain a sense of normalcy in uncertain times, especially in foreign countries.
A quartet of four Ukrainian women who all arrived in Germany after the war began.
Together, they sing traditional Ukrainian folk songs – not only to preserve their cultural heritage, but also to share it with non-Ukrainian audiences. Their regular rehearsals have become an important space for connection, continuity, and mutual support.
Together, they sing traditional Ukrainian folk songs – not only to preserve their cultural heritage, but also to share it with non-Ukrainian audiences. Their regular rehearsals have become an important space for connection, continuity, and mutual support.