Ackermann Niels

«Here, more people die because of drugs and alcohol than radioactivity» explained Kiril while pointing to the tomb of his best friend, who fell from a balcony during another vodka soaked party.

In 2016, the world will commemorate the 30th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster. Instead of reminding once more the overly documented consequences of the accident I chose to look toward the future. During three years, I photographed the youth of Slavutych: Ukraine's youngest city. The town born from the catastrophe.

The story documents the life of Yulia: a teenager I saw transforming into a young adult in front of my camera. As time passed by Yulia changed her occupations. From parties, drinks and short relationships to a married life with a job and serious responsibilities. She and her friends let me photograph them along this very crucial phase of life: the moment when we decide what we want to do of our life, where and with whom. A metamorphosis her own country is also going through, freeing itself in blood and pain from it's neighbor Russia. Youngsters of Slavutych as well as of Ukraine are now fixing their parents mistakes and building a serene and prosperous future despite the austerity.
Built in the middle of a forest 50km away from the destroyed nuclear power plant, Slavutych was supposed to be one of the latest demonstrations of Soviet greatness. Since year 2000 Chernobyl stopped producing electricity therefore worsening the economic prospects of that strategic city. It now relies nearly exclusively on the construction of the new sarcophagus that will end in 2017. No clear plan seems ready yet to give the city a future.