PhotoVogue: Ukrainian photographers reflect on the second anniversary of the full-scale war
February 24 marks two years since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine. Vogue Ukraine and PhotoVogue invited the country’s photographers to share images that embody their personal experiences throughout this time. These images document life as it is during the wartime — filled with pain, happiness and hope.
Ania Brudna
"We were sitting with Maxim on the balcony of his and Marichka's studio in Lviv. He was recently injured in the southern direction, where he was clearing mines. That day he felt unwell and was smoking a cigarette, leaning on the fence. At that moment, he was so calm and vulnerable that I wanted to take a picture."
Daria Svertilova
"I took a picture of Kafa in Dnipro during their rehabilitation at a local clinic. 22-year-old Kafa were a drone operator in the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade aka Kholodny Yar. They are from from Crimea and say that ‘the way home is through the war. No one is born for war, but now everyone has to fight, regardless of age, religion, gender and cultural background."
Kristina Podobed
"In this photo is my friend Yenora, whom I met in Camaret. I moved there after the beginning of the great war. I took the picture at the end of the summer and I moved to another place right after. Every time I look at it, I feel sad because we will most likely never see each other again. It's terrible to imagine who else among my friends I will never see."
Lesha Berezovskiy
"This is a portrait of my wife, Agatha, taken on February 24, 2023. In 2022, in the first hours of a full-scale invasion, we took portraits of each other in the kitchen, not knowing what lay ahead. In a year, I decided to retake these photos a year after to see how we have changed. My photo book We Stay, a chronicle of the first year of full-scale war, includes both pairs of pictures."
Polina Polikarpova
"This picture is from a documentary series taken during my two-week stay in Kalush, Ivano-Frankivsk region, after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. It was the most stressful time for me: I left Kyiv and found shelter with my boyfriend's parents, but my mother still remained in Kharkiv, my hometown, 30 km from the Russian border. When, after eight days under shelling, she finally evacuated, even here in relatively safe Kalush, she felt disoriented and exhausted. She could only sleep with her face covered with a sweater because, in Kharkiv, she had to spend the night alone in a basement in complete darkness. After her arrival, I finally felt better."
Sasha Kurmaz
"The photo shows a residential building in the city of Borodyanka, Kyiv region, after the Russian shelling in 2022. It vividly demonstrates the consequences of Russian aggression. It shows how your home can be destroyed at any moment and tomorrow may never come. It is about fear, pain and danger. Words are superfluous here because the image speaks for itself."
Synchrodogs
"In these challenging times for our homeland we're exploring how the human spirit navigates uncertainty, finding ways to evolve and grow amidst the turbulence. Our project delves into the idea that humans are like canvases, and Change is the paint that transforms us. We're witnessing how people adapt to life's twists and turns, evolving into new forms like flowers blooming after rain. The key point is to convey the beauty and resilience of the human spirit as it embraces continuous evolution and cycles of life."
Vasylyna Vrublevska
"In January 2024, the Ukrainian poet and soldier Maksym Kryvtsov died. His mother left a comment on his last poem: ‘With violets, my dearest son will grow.’ It is impossible to imagine the amount of pain from the loss of loved ones in the last two years, but one can think about hope that the military gives us every day. And eternal honour and memory to the dead."
Vic Bakin
"This photo is a symbol of return for me. Coming back home. It was made in the early summer of 2022 in the village of Velyka Dymerka. After the defeat and withdrawal of Russian troops from the Kyiv region, people began to return to their homes — some untouched, some, unfortunately, destroyed. Every Ukrainian knows: when storks come back to their nests, life returns to cities and villages."
Yasha Zhylin
"Most people of my generation played soldiers as children, having no idea what war was. The war seemed to be something forgotten. It was as if humanity had passed the stage of its formation and moved to a new level of relations. It is troubling to realize that today, the war touched everyone and affected each of us. That's why I took a picture of soldiers, trying to give meaning to their actions and forming a composition – like a monument I saw in my childhood. Wall, mountain, bond, strength, support, resistance."
Yegor Parker
"This photo is called A Guardian Angel for a reason. When I saw this scene, I realized that the tired woman was, metaphorically, Ukraine, not all-mighty but still opposing the enemy. I was thinking a lot about what the spirit of our country could look like, and when I witnessed this scene, a clear understanding came to me: simple people who kept strength within themselves every day were our absolute truth. This photo was taken in the market of the city of Dnipro in the spring of 2022."
Stephan Lisowski
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