SIX WEEKS

Photographers David Peskens and HJ Hunter traveled through the Baltic states. They examined how –especially young– Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians see the future of their countries since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They stood among the recently toppled Soviet statues in Grūtas Park in Lithuania, witnessed the Russian-speaking community laying flowers on May 9th at the war graves of their ancestors in Daugavpils (Latvia), and celebrated Independence Day at Toompea Castle in the Estonian capital Tallinn. ‘Through our journey, I have come to understand better what patriotism is and where it comes from,’ says Hunter (left in the photo). ‘The fact that this feeling is so strong in the Baltic countries has everything to do with the traumatic Soviet past.’ Sometimes, there were moments when they couldn’t go on, Peskens explains. ‘A game of chess provided an opportunity for reflection,’ such as here at a military base in Tapa, Estonia.

— Robbert Vermue (Editor in chief National Geographic Magazine)