Maidan Heroes

• Photographer
  Amanda Rivkin, United States
• Studio
  freelance

From February 18-20, 2014, the Maidan Square in Central Kiev
was the scene of a siege, the culmination of months long
protests initially led by students who were later joined by
Ukrainians of all walks of life representing all aspects of society.
What began as a protest against President Viktor Yanukoych’s
decision to sign an economic agreement with Moscow over an
association agreement with the European Union had morphed
into something else, a larger demonstration of the people
against the state. Snipers positioned on buildings surrounding
the square attacked the demonstrators with live rounds, leading
to over 70 deaths. The next day, Yanukovych fled his luxurious
residence outside of Kiev for Russia, where he remains. The
Maidan Heroes are those who were shot and survived this spat
of political violence. This is not a name I have chosen for them,
but rather how the Ukrainians refer to them.

• Awards
  2015 Columbia University, Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma Ochberg Fellowship. 2014 National Geographic Society, Young Explorers Grant, Postwar Reconstruction in Bosnia. 2013 Yale University, Poynter Fellowship. 2011-2012 Fulbright Grant in photography, Azerbaijan. 2010 National Geographic Society, Young Explorers Grant, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline. 2009 American Photography 26, Blagojevich’s Final Day. 2008 BBC Training Bursary, Rory Peck Trust for Hazardous Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) with Centurion. 2007 American Council on Germany, John J. McCloy Fellowship.