Through the Lens of Resilience: Ukrainian Photojournalists Capture the Human Toll of War

As Ukraine endures the devastating impacts of the ongoing war with Russia, the stories of photojournalists like Vlada and Kostiantyn Liberov, Valeria Demenko, and Alexander Ermochenko shed light on both the horrors and fleeting moments of joy experienced by civilians and soldiers alike. Their commitment to documenting these experiences serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit amid conflict.

In the three years since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, numerous photographers have bravely documented the profound human impact of the conflict, both at the front lines and within civilian areas. Among them are couples and individuals who transitioned from capturing serene love stories to chronicling the tragedies of war.

Vlada and Kostiantyn Liberov, a husband and wife team previously renowned for their wedding photography in Odesa, have seen their lives drastically transform as they now document what Vlada terms "Russian war crimes." The dangers they face have become deeply personal; following a harrowing close call in Donetsk, Vlada has shrapnel lodged in her body, an injury that doctors deemed inoperable.

The emotional burdens of their work resonate through their photographs. Kostiantyn captured a poignant image in the summer of 2024, illustrating a scene of deep sorrow as a soldier consoles a grieving comrade after an incident that claimed another fellow serviceman. "To lose your friend during an operation within Russian territory, as opposed to defending our homeland, complicates everything," he reflected.

The psyche of those documenting such loss can be heavy. Vlada shared that discussing their emotional struggles is not common among her peers, revealing a collective pain that simmers beneath their professional composure. One of her notable photographs shows a police officer attempting—futilely—to encourage the last remaining resident of Avdiivka to evacuate before a looming danger. The haunting uncertainty that bars them from returning to these places adds to her emotional toll.

In contrast, amid the tragedy, there are glimpses of light that the photojournalists have learned to cherish. Dmytro, a soldier who has fought for over a decade in Ukraine, was featured in an emotionally stirring photograph cradling his newborn daughter; a poignant symbol of hope against the backdrop of despair.

Valeria Demenko has spent years documenting the work of Ukraine's state emergency service in the northeastern region of Sumy. Her experiences on the ground often involve persevering through tragedies wrought by the conflict. A memory that stands out for her is of emergency workers responding to a residential building collapse after Russian shelling. The discovery of a child's doll in the wreckage deepened the tragedy of an already grim reality.

Meanwhile, Alexander Ermochenko reports from the Donetsk region, capturing the shared experiences of war among affected populations, underlining a common thread: that suffering transcends the boundaries of allegiance. The restrictions placed on photojournalists attempting to cover narratives from the Russian side only serve to strengthen Ermochenko's resolve to bear witness to the war's toll.

Alina Smutko, based in Kyiv, channels her personal experiences of surviving missile strikes into her work. The emotional toll of witnessing colleagues being injured or killed weighs heavily on her, yet she emphasizes the importance of documenting wartime realities as a necessary act of remembrance.

Through the lens of these dedicated photojournalists, the complexities of war—love, grief, resilience, and duty—are brought to light, providing a stark reflection of life's fragility and the indomitable spirit of the human experience.