Story highlights Photographer Danila Tkachenko tracked men living off the grid in Russia and Ukraine

Tkachenko spent a few days with each man before taking photos

(CNN) Deep in the untouched areas of Ukraine and Russia live men who have decided to leave human establishments and live isolated in nature.

Photographer Danila Tkachenko tracked some of them down by calling local authorities, park rangers, newspapers and nature reserves, though it's difficult to track down a man who has chosen to be lost.

"Often the information is not accurate, so many trips went in vain," Tkachenko said.

The hermits live in homes made of local resources -- lumber, burrows in the ground or caves -- and eat what they hunt or gather. If they fall ill, Tkachenko said, they live with the condition or treat themselves with folk methods. He said one man lost his vision completely but continues to live by himself in the woods.

Danila Tkachenko

Occasionally the men see tourists, hunters or guests like Tkachenko, though typically they are alone.

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