Stories of resilience and belonging: New exhibition highlights the lives of refugees and stateless people in Ukraine

The exhibition presents stories of refugees, people who have been forced across borders to seek safety from war, violence and persecution; and stateless people who find themselves without the protection and opportunities that a nationality provides – who have all rebuilt life in Ukraine despite forced displacement, loss, and uncertainty. Through striking portraits and personal narratives, visitors are invited to meet the people beyond their legal status and discover their stories of resilience, belonging, and hope.

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For decades, Ukraine has welcomed people fleeing war and persecution and worked to ensure solutions for stateless people, demonstrating solidarity with those who have nowhere else to turn. Today, however, Ukraine's story reflects both sides of displacement. While the country continues to host refugees and asylum-seekers from more than 60 countries, millions of Ukrainians have themselves been forced to seek safety abroad because of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The war has also created new challenges for people at risk of statelessness. Forced displacement, temporary occupation, loss of documents, and disruption of civil registration services have increased the risk of people being left without proof of nationality or access to their rights.

“Behind every portrait is a person with dreams, talents, and aspirations, who has overcome extraordinary challenges to rebuild their life. Their stories remind us that refugees and stateless people are not defined by the difficult situation they find themselves in, but by their strength, resilience, and contributions to the communities around them,” said Bernadette Castel-Hollingsworth, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine.

The exhibition features refugees from Afghanistan, Rwanda, Syria and other countries who found safety in Ukraine, some of whom have been forced to flee again when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And it features people who have experienced the invisibility of statelessness as a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, discrimination faced by minority groups such as Roma, and the impacts of the war, including displacement, temporary occupation, and the loss of personal documents.

The exhibition also places these stories within a broader global context. Today, more than 122 million people worldwide have been forced to flee their homes because of conflict, violence, and persecution, while millions of others remain stateless.

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This year, the international community marks the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 65th anniversary of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness - landmark agreements that have helped protect millions of people worldwide. The exhibition serves as an opportunity to reflect on their continued relevance and on the importance of ensuring protection, legal identity, and belonging for all.