Life in Ukraine

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.

For more than two years, Mykolaiv has survived without a centralized drinking water supply—another crisis caused by Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine.

Russia’s terror against Ukraine persists, relentlessly taking lives and devastating cities. Yet, the Ukrainian spirit remains unbreakable. Ukrainians stand strong, competing in the Invictus Games with their largest team yet, continuing the Kursk operation in Russia, and driving technological innovation on the frontline.