Shaheen Hosts NH Photographer’s Ukraine Photo Exhibit in Washington
** Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States also attended**
(Washington, DC)— Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, hosted Patrick Patterson, a documentary photographer from Newington, New Hampshire, in Washington to exhibit photos Patterson took during his 14 months living in Ukraine. The photos document life during the war for Ukrainians resisting Putin’s aggression and in some cases, shows Ukrainians’ experiences living under Russian occupation. Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, was also in attendance. Photos from the exhibit can be found here.
“I was glad to host Newington’s Patrick Patterson’s exhibit in the Senate today to showcase the heart-wrenching photos that demonstrate the bravery, resilience and daily challenges of the Ukrainian people during Putin’s ongoing war,” said Senator Shaheen, senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. “This exhibit serves as an important reminder of the atrocities endured by the Ukrainian people and underscores the importance of continued support for Ukraine in their fight for freedom and democracy.”
“Izyum—where I spent much of my time when I was living in Ukraine—symbolizes Russia’s wickedness. When Russian soldiers retreated from Izyum, they not only left behind the dead; they left behind the living witnesses who share stories of rape, torture, and murder. When the narrative shifts from the business of war and starts showing Russian atrocities, the response to Russia’s aggression might be different. When the world saw images of murdered civilians lying next to bikes on the roads of Bucha, they responded. I am grateful to U.S. Senator Shaheen for helping amplify the voices of Ukraine and honored to have Ambassador Oksana Markarova at the U.S. Capitol today,” said Patrick Patterson.
“I am thankful to photographer Patrick Patterson and Senator Jeanne Shaheen for supporting this important exhibit at the Russell Rotunda. These photographs are true windows into the stories of those who have experienced Russian occupation, oppression and war crimes. They carry powerful messages of our collective national resilience and courage and as such create change, reminding international audiences about what is at stake in this war,” said Oksana Markarova, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States.
Patrick Patterson is a New Hampshire-based freelance photographer. During his 14 months in Ukraine, Patterson experienced artillery, drone and missile attacks firsthand and connected with Ukrainian citizens directly impacted by Putin’s war. Patterson’s photographs will be on display in the Russell Rotunda through Thursday, November 9, 2023.
A member of the U.S. Senate Ukraine Caucus, Shaheen has led action in the Senate to support Ukraine in response to Putin’s barbaric war. Shaheen spoke on the Senate floor in favor of continued support to Ukraine through a supplemental funding request. Shaheen has led multiple bipartisan delegations to Ukraine and met with President Zelenskyy and members of his Cabinet. Shaheen leads legislation in the U.S. Senate to address a U.S. strategy toward key political regions in Europe to bolster European security and transatlantic unity. As chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group and Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee that oversees U.S. policy towards Europe, Shaheen is a leading policymaker on efforts in defense of democracies around the globe amid Putin’s efforts to destabilize the continent. Shaheen led on the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which was signed into law, and establishes a military lend-lease program to enhance security assistance to Ukraine. Shaheen also leads the Promoting Readiness for Overseas Contingencies and Unexpected Responses to Exigencies (PROCURE) Act with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), which would establish a Critical Munitions Acquisition Fund (CMAF) to allow the Secretary of Defense to better manage industry production lines and sustain particular munitions lines that are critical to U.S. national security interests.
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