Over an abyss in rust UA

How does one glimpse Ukraine through the windows of a passing suburban train? Pavlo Steh embarked on a journey around the edge of the nation, capturing the essence of a place where tales of the Soviet era mix with stories of smuggling, experiences of drinking vodka with tomato juice, and the hustle and bustle of lively children. Alongside these, there are encounters with taxi drivers, punks, and echoes of 1990s popular music. The omnipresent rust is a constant companion, showcasing itself as part of the scenery at rural train stations, stitching the country together with delicate connections. The narrative took its final form in 2024, when Steh penned the concluding chapter while serving in the Defense Forces, marking it as a symbolic leap onto the last train car—a poignant return to Avdiivka, representing the culmination of a carefree journey that began five years prior.