Nestled at the National Museum in Gaborone, the photos and bomb remains in exhibition reflect harrowing visual journey through the destruction, resilience and human cost of the conflict that has left the country in shambles. The collection of images carefully curated by the embassy at the time of war from when it started in 2022 up to the present showcases the impact of war on Ukrainian cities like Kyiv, villages and civilians. Each photograph tells a powerful story worth thousand words depicting once thriving neighbourhoods, malls and parks that have been reduced to mere rubble. Some pictures tell a different story. They highlight the endurance and stamina of the Ukrainian people lending a helping in the time of war whereas some show men joining the battlefield to defend their country against the Russian incursion.
Ukraine Ambassador to Botswana, Olesksiy Syvak, said the purpose of the act is to raise awareness about the realities of the war allowing Batswana and the international community to witness firsthand the suffering and resilience of the Ukrainian people. "These images are not just photographs," the ambassador said when taking The Monitor team through a detailed private tour of the exhibition, "they are windows into history taking viewers through the war as if they were there when it all happened." Syvak stated that he remembers the day when the war started vividly back in 2022 as to him and fellow Ukrainians it feels just like yesterday. Worse for him, Syvak revealed that the war commenced just when he just landed in the country from the United States of America accompanied by his wife. Few hours after arrival at their homeland, the ambassador said that Russia launched its first attack which misplaced hundreds of people and marked the start of the war. "It feels like yesterday when Russia hit our country for the first time, me and my wife who is a medical doctor knew how bad the situation is. "My wife as the doctor went on to tend to people who were injured and I armed myself with a rifle," he said explaining the first day of the war.
Explaining a portrait on exhibition of men in camouflaged clothing in a train hugging and kissing their wives goodbye, Syvak said the picture alone summed up what his fellow citizens are going through. "We identify this train station as the love point as this is where our soldiers boarded the train and went to the war. Their partners would say goodbye to them there knowing very well that it might be the last time they hold each other, kiss as they might get killed in the battle," he said. The exhibition is expected to run until this week offering Batswana a rare and immersive perspective into the war. The ambassador highlighted that people could always go there to see for themselves what his country is going through.
