Life in Ukraine

This week in Ukraine, Russian airstrikes devastated Odesa and Kherson, killing civilians and destroying homes. Along the eastern front, Ukrainian forces held ground in Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Kupyansk amid heavy fighting. As the war grinds on, soldiers return home as veterans, medics work to stabilize the wounded, and young Ukrainians march through Kyiv — all captured in powerful images.

Thousands of Ukrainians trapped in Russian-occupied regions risk their lives on dangerous journeys through heavily guarded Russian checkpoints, trying to reach safety and return to Ukraine. This is the reality of escaping Russian control, torture, and constant surveillance.

In Kharkiv, a city battered by relentless Russian attacks, artists, curators, and performers refuse to leave their home. They won’t let the war silence them. Their studios double as bomb shelters, their exhibitions continue even amid blackouts, and their theaters adapt to missile alerts. 

In war, many moments become crossroads—between staying and leaving, fighting and falling, survival and sacrifice. A husband and wife share a final embrace before she evacuates. Former prisoners take up arms to defend Ukraine. A father carries on his sons’ legacy. And in Washington, a meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy signals a shifting diplomatic landscape. These photos capture the resilience, tension, and evolving alliances shaping Ukraine’s fight for survival.

Ukraine is now one of the most mined countries in the world due to Russia’s invasion. On August 9, 2022, sapper Vladyslav Yeshchenko disarmed 84 mines near Bakhmut—until one of the munitions detonated, triggering a chain explosion less than a meter away. In that instant, everything changed.

Despite Russia’s ongoing assaults, Mykolaiv’s healthcare professionals continue to deliver critical care at the Regional Clinical Hospital, prioritizing patient recovery and support.