On May 15, the Head of State opened an exhibition “16” – series of 16 photo portraits of heroes-participants of ATO. Servicemen whose photos are represented in the exhibition, the author – photographer Roman Nikolaiev took part in the ceremony of exhibition’s opening.

“Country must know and respect its heroes who are currently creating an absolutely new Ukraine. The exhibition represents 16 heroes who have glorified Ukraine for centuries with their sacrifice, courage, bravery and patriotism, who give the younger generation an example of how one should love the Motherland and defend it,” Petro Poroshenko emphasized.

Addressing to the militaries, whose portraits are represented at the exhibition, the Head of State said: “The whole Ukraine is proud of you. You are the pride of the country. Low bow to you for that”.

The Head of State underscored that from now on, visitors, inter alia, the foreign delegations will see the most respective Ukrainians in Ukrainian Presidential Administration. Petro Poroshenko also promotes the idea of placing the exhibition in Boryspil airport. “For Ukrainians who return from abroad and the guests of Ukraine to see how Ukraine respects those who defend our Motherland and demonstrates the best human qualities,” the President said.

The exhibition represents 16 photo portraits of Ukrainian heroes, from soldier to colonel, who bravely defends Ukrainian Donbas. There is a portrait of commander of one of the separate reconnaissance battalions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The author of portraits is photographer Roman Nikolaiev, a famous master of modern Ukrainian photography. He was a volunteer and then went to the ATO area as a photographer.

During the exhibition’s opening, the photographer says that depicting the faces of heroes, he tried to convey the whole pain of war through their eyes.