Balaklava: The Lost History
Crimea, Ukraine, 2011-2014

Balaklava is a small town by the sea in the Crimean Peninsula. During the Soviet era it was a city that didn't exist to the outside world. The town was behind the scene, closed to the public for more than 30 years on account of the submarine base that was situated there.
Almost the entire population of Balaklava worked at the base, and even family members could not visit the town without a good reason or proper identification. You might not see military guards on every corner, but you can feel their presence, especially when you start talking to people. The Soviet Union hasn't existed for 20 years, but the shadow of it lies everywhere. Things have changed, but the people's minds have not.