A rare chance to see a unique one-day exhibition of icons painted on the lids of wooden ammunition boxes recovered from the frontline battlefields of Ukraine can be seen in East Devon on Monday, July 6.
St Andrew’s Church, Colyton, is hosting the Icons on Ammo Boxes exhibition – it has only been on show once before in Britain. It is available to see for one day only in East Devon before it moves on to Gloucester Cathedral and the Houses of Parliament.
Colyton was chosen as an exhibition venue after Laura Bulivant, who comes from the town and works for Aid for Ukraine – making several trips to the war-torn country – was invited to pick a location in recognition of her charity work.
The Guardian Angel, painted onto an ammunition box removed from the Ukrainian-Russian war frontline. Image: with permission.
The exhibition has been on show worldwide, and displayed in 112 cities, plus European Parliament, the Office of the President of Ukraine, the House of the Government of Ukraine – and now on Monday, July 6, Colyton, East Devon.
President Zelenskiy in May presented Pope Leo XIV with an ammunition box icon highlighting children who have suffered as a result of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
And King Charles has one of the icons in his own art collection.
Saint Demetrios – one of the striking images painted onto an discarded ammunition box used on the frontline in the Ukraine-Russia war. Image: with permission.
Father Steven Martin, Rector of St Andrew’s Church, Colyton, said: “These discarded items rescued from the heat of war and conflict have been transformed into powerful instruments of hope and faith.
“We are very honoured to bring this internationally significant exhibition to Colyton and I hope and pray that many will be able to come and experience the powerful message of solidarity, peace and reconciliation they represent.”
Our Lady with the Child, using an ammo box as a base, painted in 2025. Image: with permission.
The Icons on Ammo Boxes project, created by Kyiv-based artists Sonya Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko, highlights the Ukrainian-Russian war through the transformation of death into life, shown by the use of ammunition boxes brought back from the combat zone frontline.
A spokesperson for Icons on Ammo Boxes said: “The main idea of the project is the transformation of death – which is symbolized by an ammo box – into life, which is traditionally symbolized by icons in Ukrainian culture.
“The boxes used as a base for the icons were brought from the frontlines. That is why the icons painted on their fragments are symbolic witnesses of the war in Ukraine.”
St Andrew’s Church, pluton, will host the exhibition for one day only. Photo: with permission.
Entry is free to the exhibition. Refreshments will be available. The church has planned a programme of events to coincide with the Icons on Ammo Boxes, including an evening service for peace featuring a Ukrainian choir from Gloucestershire.
The programme for the day is:
- 8.30am – Morning Prayer
- 9am – Exhibition opens
- 10am – Holy Eucharist
- 12noon – Midday Devotions
- 6.30pm – Service for Peace featuring a Ukrainian choir from Gloucestershire
Visitors are welcome to come and go throughout the day, whether attending a service, viewing the exhibition, or spending time in quiet reflection.
Visitors to the church are welcome to join in the day’s programme of events, coinciding with the exhibition, including quiet reflection, as shown here at a previous prayer vigil. Photo: with permission.
Donations are welcome, and will go towards Aid for Ukraine Gloucestershire, an organisation helping send aid to Ukraine and provide trauma therapy for children.
