Host Helen Lee continues with the third and final part of her conversation with Maxim Dondyuk, Ukrainian photographer and visual artist, and his wife and Artistic Manager Irena Dondyuk about how the Ukrainians are responding emotionally to the war, the strengthening of Ukrainian culture and language in the face of Russian aggression, how Maxim and Irena cope personally with the experience, how the frontline war must be faced with humanity first, the importance of national and intellectual freedom, and Maxim and Irena’s unwavering hope for the future of Ukraine. 
As mass consciousness is raised globally, and we allow the highest aspects of who we are to lead us and our lives, we will operate from a much higher level of intelligence - spiritual intelligence or SQ which has to be and will be the foundation for IQ and EQ, and we would have eradicated all possibility of war, pandemics, poverty, hunger and all manner of injustice and inequality.
Our task is to conscientiously and consciously move towards transforming and thriving en masse now, release all old programs, old ways of thinking, emoting and behaviour that are lower vibrational, that smacks of lack and limitation, fear and scarcity, aggression and domination, greed and need to control AND shift towards endless possibilities and abundance for all, love and peace, caring and collaboration, sharing and giving, justice and equality.
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS
 
Maxim and Irena keep themselves positive about their future and as is the case with most Ukrainians, they relentlessly push to end the war, driven to protect their country and people, their identity and freedom at the same time. 
The Ukrainians feel much anger during this time which motivates them in their fight against Russia, but more importantly their love and pride for their country drives them forward. 
Before the invasion, many in Ukraine used the Russian language but now using Russian is shameful. Russia’s refusal to acknowledge Ukraine as a country and accept its own unique culture has resulted in widespread rejection of everything Russian.  
Because of his time in the frontline, Maxim can feel hopelessness creeping up, especially when parted from Irena for months at a time. He can feel anger at both sides, especially those intent on continuing the war but never witness the destruction wrought on the frontlines of battle. 
If you don’t respond emotionally when working on the frontline, in Maxim's case as a photographer, then it is psychologically worse as suppression can be damaging. Firstly, Maxim helps all that need help, both humans and animals, and then, secondarily, takes pictures that can be used to document Ukraine's plight. 
Maxim recently won the W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography for his work Ukraine: 2014 to 2022. This funding is important in many countries as it is currently, mainly in richer countries that steady sponsorship and support can be secured, so grants are essential in those underfunded areas of the world. 
It is not only important for nations to achieve their own freedom, but vital that we all have freedom within our own minds. Freedom of thought and freedom of ideas. In many countries, the population do not have this freedom and Russia is one example. 
Competition between countries leading to eventual aggression comes from internal weakness. Diplomacy is strength, understanding is strength, communication is strength. Russia respects only power and that is their weakness.
A quote from Helen that she has been advocating for decades is: "True power is NOT power over others but power over our own fear and ego-based minds".
By raising our consciousness and connecting with our deeper spiritual selves, we can all make the need for war obsolete. When we align with soul and spirit, we think differently and lower vibrations like fear, hate and greed which motivate war are replaced with much higher vibrational energies. 
 
BEST MOMENTS
‘They speak openly and honestly about the emotions of the Ukrainians and their own as well. They are also very clear about lots of things including what’s necessary to keep themselves sane and balanced while they are dealing with the stresses and constraints of war.’ – Helen
‘They gave me great hope for the quality of human beings we would like to see in our world. Kind, genuinely loving and caring people. Gentle, honest and open beings that emanate a higher intelligence and consideration for humanity and animals.’ – Helen
‘It's not possible for Russia to invade our country because even women and children take pictures of Russian tanks and give their position to the Ukrainian army.’ – Maxim 
‘Sometimes I feel so much anger in me. Sometimes I feel hopeless, sometimes I feel sorry for the Russian people because they are so miserable with everything they do. It’s a great mix of feelings in myself but with each new missile from Russia, with each new death that comes from Russia, I feel more anger and pity for them.’ – Irena 
‘A soldier knows what they do. They are ready to die. But when it’s a civilian, it's hard. First of all I’m a man not a photographer and if I can help people, if somebody is dead or injured or they need food, or they’re homeless, dogs and cats everywhere I share all my food and everything I have because I can do it. First, I will be human and second I will be a photographer.’ – Maxim
‘And, as you (Helen) say, it’s really important that freedom is not only for nations, but it’s really important to have freedom inside of our own minds. Sometimes, we do stupid things because we have no freedom, because somebody controls our mind - in some countries.’ – Maxim
‘I hold an unwavering intention and pray that Ukraine and all nations will have their freedom and sovereignty very soon. That there will be abundance and freedom, justice and equality for all living things, all humans as well as all fauna and flora, and all that live and breathe, including our planet, can flourish greatly. I know that this can be so, as the level of human consciousness is raised.’ – Helen  
 
ABOUT THE GUEST
Maxim’s professional career began in Ukrainian media as a photojournalist in 2007. He has been freelance since 2010, working on creating and promoting his own documentary projects, following the sociopolitical events in his country of Ukraine for years and expressing through the visual arts for well over a decade. He became world famous with his interviews on CNN and his publications in Time Magazine and is currently photo-documenting the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and recording atrocities that are difficult to imagine or behold.
His accomplishments include being a recent winner of theW. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography, a finalist in the Prix Pictet Photography Prize and Fotoevidence Book Award, and winner of the Prix Photo La Quatrieme Image, Ville de Perpignan Remi Ochlik Award at Visa pour l’Image, a Magnum Photos Competition ‘30 under 30’ for emerging documentary photographers, and received Grand Prix ‘Best Global Health Story’ of Becton Dickinson (BD)’s 'Hope for a Healthy World Photo Competition.'
 
ABOUT THE HOST HELEN LEE
Founder & Principal Coach of Lee Heiss Coaching, Helen Lee coached thousands of clients worldwide and multinationals in Asia-Pacific in the last three decades. She created a powerful ontological coaching methodology that ignites the true greatness or invincibility in people. Thoroughly tested and honed over 20 years, this methodology consistently and rapidly produces desired results.
Helen was also a journalist who later ran her own communications consultancies in Australia and Asia.The Business Times listed her in its “Who’s Who of Women Shaping Singapore” while The Straits Times named her “The Leader Prodder” in a feature on Singapore’s top coaches.
 
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