Her Story: Ukrainian Photographer uses TikTok to capture life during war

Shashenok is one of many Ukrainians who have used social media to capture the minute to minute situation in Ukraine. Photo: Screenshot

Ukrainian Photographer Valeria Shashenok has been hiding in a bunker with her family ever since the destruction of her home during the Russian invasion of Kyiv. The Russian army may have destroyed her home and city but not her TikTok account and so, in her refuge, she is using her TikTok videos to capture the destruction of her city.

She does this by showing viewers her daily routine: Her mothers cooking, the bewilderment of her pet dog, and walks to the mostly empty and destroyed convenience stores.

Her videos have gained her international recognition as they've gone viral on Tiktok with over twenty million views.

Reports have said that over a million civilians are fleeing to neighbouring countries. Those who have stayed are handed weapons to defend their country from the Russian army.

Shashenok uses her videos to document war torn life but also as a form of levity.

In her most viewed video "My Typical Day in a Bomb Shelter” Shashenok uses sarcastic humour to describe her new found life of solitude with captions like “Living my best life. Thanks Russia.”

Upon taking her daily ‘strolls’ outside, she reveals the devastation laid upon her neighborhood buildings, with the words “Look what Putin did to my city”, accompanied my many smiling emojis. (https://bit.ly/3hT8irR)

"Turning the harsh realities of war into a fun TikTok video may have sounded like satire one year ago. But today, TikTok has become the only way for many Ukrainians, like Shashenok, to express their fears and anxieties of an uncertain future. They display a spirit of resistance and chaotic humour at the same time.

"I want everyone to know the truth behind the crimes of Russia’s army.” Shashenok told CNN in an interview on Monday. “This invasion is not a Ukrainian problem. It's a world problem."

Shashenok isn’t alone. Many Ukrainians have used social media to capture the minute-to-minute situation in Ukraine. Their country's president, Volodomyr Zelensky, has been praised internationally by posting daily updates on social media inspiring and encouraging the citizens of Ukraine to defend their land and demanding Russia to stop its invasion.

Many heroic acts of the Ukrainian people have also gone viral, clips of ordinary citizens standing up to a force far mightier than their own. At the same time many horrifying videos of bombings and tragic civillian attacks have surfaced online too.

In this age of social media, we get to witness the atrocities of war as it is unfolding. From a platform that was known primarily for its dance videos, no one can deny the influence TikTok now has not just in culture but also in reporting news.

Check out Shashenok's account here:https://bit.ly/3HVwe8x