Life in Ukraine

Born amid the street clashes on Kyiv’s Independence Square in 2013, the Ukrainian documentary collective Babylon 13 has spent more than a decade filming the country’s resistance—from the Revolution of Dignity to Russia’s full-scale invasion. What began as rapid, anonymous shorts shot on the barricades has evolved into one of Ukraine’s most extensive cinematic archives.

The Ukrainian struggle for freedom has inspired people across the globe—including renowned US adventurer, filmmaker, and director Mark Fisher. Now, he’s looking for a way to share that inspiration with the world, filming in Ukraine.

You may already know the long journey coffee takes from distant farms to expert roasters to your morning mug. Now add Russian airstrikes to that process. Across Ukraine, even under fire, people still brew. This is how they keep the ritual alive.

On January 6, Ukrainians across the country marked Epiphany with a time-honored tradition—plunging into icy waters to renew their faith. Despite ongoing challenges from Russia’s war, the ritual of immersing in frigid rivers, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, remains a powerful expression of Ukraine’s cultural resilience and spiritual renewal.

This year, we documented powerful stories across Ukraine—from frontline realities to personal moments—capturing the ongoing impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

“What was once a place of happiness became a site of tragedy,” says Daryna, a Mariupol native. For thousands of Ukrainian families, 2022 was the last time they celebrated winter holidays at home. Soon after, Russia launched its full-scale war, and those homes were occupied or destroyed—sometimes both.