In the three years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, numerous photojournalists have taken it upon themselves to encapsulate the profound human cost of war. This crucial work bears witness to the tragedy and resilience faced by individuals across the nation.
Among those at the forefront are Vlada and Kostiantyn Liberov, whose previous careers as wedding photographers in Odesa have transformed. Transitioning from capturing love stories, they recount their experiences of documenting Russian war crimes. Vlada remembers the moment an explosion left her with shrapnel that could not be removed. Moments of battle and loss are seen through their lens, including Kostiantyn’s distressing photograph of a soldier mourning a comrade after an assault in Kursk. "It’s a reflection of the mental and emotional weight our troops carry," he notes.
Vlada's photographic experiences don’t just capture suffering; they also reveal fleeting moments of happiness amid chaos. She recalls Dmytro, a soldier, shedding tears of joy after the birth of his daughter, a powerful reminder of what this fight is truly for—the joy of family amidst destruction. This poignant mix of loss and fleeting joy underscores the emotional toll on those documenting these stories.
Valeria Demenko has been chronicling the work of Ukraine's emergency services since 2016. She recounts poignant moments from the frontlines, such as the aftermath of a collapsed building resulting from Russian shelling in 2024. "The emotion and danger we encounter remain with us," she emphasizes, knowing the stakes are high during emergency situations.
Alexander Ermochenko, another veteran photographer from the eastern Donetsk region, shares insights on documenting the human side of conflict. His work spans years of turmoil, capturing the shared pain and fear among civilians on both sides of the conflict. He stresses that the experiences, feelings, and lives impacted should be represented visually—cross-border warfare transcends political divides.
Alina Smutko, based in Kyiv, understands the war’s toll on a deeply personal level. She experiences the constant threat of missile attacks and grapples with the vulnerability felt by her loved ones. The daily reality of living amid conflict weighs heavily on her and her fellow photojournalists, some of whom have suffered injuries and loss. "Every image we capture serves to remind the world of our struggles," she realizes, believing in the power of visual storytelling.
As these brave photojournalists continue to share both the heart-wrenching and enlightening stories of Ukraine, they hope to both honor the memories of those lost and shed light on the resilience of those still fighting. In a world battered by conflict, their work documents that humanity still exists, even in the darkest moments.
