Skype Villages in Ukraine

In a country where millions have taken the path to labour migration, many families have at least one family member working abroad, be it in Russia or in European countries. With the large amount of remittances they transfer back to their hometowns, streets are crowded with fancy cars. Large, modern houses appear in residential neighbourhoods. The rural landscape has changed over the past 25 years.

The families themselves have changed, too. They are now “Skype families”, maintaining a close connection to their loved ones abroad through virtual means. The unity of many families is thus at risk. So is the coherence of Ukraine’s economic development. Yet a new modus vivendi has emerged. It is made of risks and disappointments, yet also of opportunities.

Photo © Chiot's Run