“The Other Battlefields” explores the profound imprint of war on Ukrainian youth, offering a glimpse into what it means to grow up and live in a country at war, more than three years after the Russian invasion.
The years of youth are normally synonymous with widening horizons, the weaving of friendships, and the promise of adventure. But for many young Ukrainians, those expectations have been shattered, replaced by fear, loss, depression, and exile.
This visual narrative unveils fractured lives and dimmed dreams, yet also a fierce resilience that pushes back against the surrounding darkness. Each image is a fragment, part of individual stories I have been following over the long term. These stories themselves are part of a broader mosaic, reflecting the hopes and realities of a wounded nation.
It was in June 2022, in Odesa, that I fully realized the importance of documenting this sacrificed generation. Young graduates, deprived of their commencement ceremony for obvious security reasons, transformed their frustration into a spontaneous art performance, later sharing it on social media to show the world what they had lost, and what they were enduring. That poignant moment revealed the urgency of bearing witness and preserving their stories.
The visible scars are only part of the narrative. Beneath the surface lie other wounds, invisible yet profound, that testify to a war also fought within the soul. These battles, whether close to or far from the frontlines, are those of freedom, dignity, reconstruction, and hope. Together, they draw the many contours of a conflict that is irreversibly shaping Ukrainian youth and its future.
Disruptions
Kyiv Ukraine 12 03 2023 Since the first Russian strikes on Ukraine s energy infrastructure blackouts have become part of daily life in Kyiv Power cuts heating failures stalled elevators and darkness are now routine In this stormy cityscape a single-lit window stands out It marks a brief fragile return of electricity a moment of normalcy in a life shaped by uncertainty For many young Ukrainians growing up in war means adapting to these constant disruptions A warm room a working light small but vital anchors in a world that no longer feels stable
Landscape of remembrance
Kyiv Ukraine 21 08 2023 Anastasia Ivashchenko returned to Kyiv from Poland where she had sought refuge at the start of the war to visit her father and younger brother That day undeterred by the heavy rain she purchased a flag in memory of her older brother who was killed near Bakhmut on January 23 2023 Quietly she placed it among thousands of others at the makeshift memorial on Maidan Square each one a fragile but powerful tribute to those who lost their lives in Russia s war against Ukraine In this landscape of remembrance her gesture becomes a thread br between grief and resilience absence and presence
Holding the Line
Pokrovsk region Ukraine 6 01 2025 Dmytro Medoc Nadkernychnyy 23 a paramedic with the 59th Brigade helps evacuate a 26-year-old soldier hit by a drone Dima studied medicine worked briefly as a nurse then enlisted in 2021 Deployed to Kherson before the invasion he later survived an ambush near Mykolaiv Scarred by back injuries and frustrated by leadership he keeps doing the work he knows pulling the wounded from the line with dry humor and focus Between rotations he studies agronomy hoping for a future in GPS-guided farming even as he doubts Ukraine s politics He believes young Ukrainians will shape the country s future but sees hard obstacles to get there
Wifes of War Prisoners
Kyiv Ukraine 06 04 2023 In Kyiv wives of Ukrainian prisoners of war gather for support sharing their struggles and strength The husband of Kateryna Plechystova second left 25 Oleh Krisenko a fighter with Ukraine s Azov Battalion was trapped in besieged bunkers at the Azovstal steelworks during the defense of Mariupol Following their surrender and captivity which drew international attention Kateryna joined The Association of Azovstal Defenders Families to advocate for their release Despite her activism she faced significant psychological challenges including anxiety and depression illustrating the emotional strain on the wives of war prisoners Her experience highlights the intense personal and emotional toll of waiting for the release of loved ones while actively campaigning for their freedom
Learning the sea without it
Odesa 1 09 2023 At the onset of Russia s invasion Odesa s bustling port ceased operations abruptly from a lively hub of maritime activity into a desolate expanse The aspiring merchant mariners from the Sea Academy once hopeful of careers navigating the oceans from this port now face uncertainty Their dreams are hindered by the presence of Russian warships mines in the waterways and strict restrictions on civilian ship movements The Odesa Sea Academy once a beacon of maritime careers now stands in stark contrast to the limited and perilous opportunities available to these young seafarers leaving their aspirations and prospects in disarray amidst the conflict
Photographs of Vitalik and Maryna Bodnar captured together in the years before the full-scale invasion before Vitalik s death in March 2022
Where Tenderness Remains
Chernihiv Ukraine 11 04 2023 Maryna Bodnar 23 y o feeds her one-year-old son Gennady in their modest kitchen Once a thrill-seeking free spirit from Mariupol Maryna s life took a sudden turn when she fell in love with Vitalik a soldier in 2019 Within two years they welcomed two children Matviy and Gennady without needing a marriage certificate We were already everything we needed to be parents partners The paper didn t matter she said br But on March 12 2022 Vitalik was killed defending Mariupol Since then Maryna has been raising her sons alone far from her destroyed hometown In this quiet moment beneath the soft morning light in Chernihiv she holds onto routine and care For a generation marked by rupture rebuilding begins with small gestures feeding a child holding on to memory creating tenderness where life tried to take it away br
They choose love above fear
Kyiv Ukraine 1 04 2023 Emilia and Denys s love story began at a birthday party in Kyiv and initially thrived with excitement and potential However the war disrupted their relationship when Emilia and her family fled to the Netherlands while Denys remained behind due to travel restrictions for Ukrainian men This separation was a heavy blow for Emilia who struggled to adapt to her new life abroad without Denys Four months later Emilia returned to Kyiv to be with Denys Now reunited they are trying to build their life together amidst the challenges posed by the war Emilia reflects on how the conflict has stolen part of her youth and ease forcing them to confront adult responsibilities and complexities far beyond what they had anticipated
Touch by touch, breath by breath.
Truskavets Ukraine 19 09 2023 Portraits of Kateryna Plechystova and Oleh Krisenko in a rehabilitation center 4 months after his liberation from Russians prisons Freed in May 2023 after a year in detention he returned gaunt scarred but home Their reunion has been quieter than imagined both partners are learning how to be together again navigating trauma sleeplessness and the small rituals of ordinary life Four months on they move carefully touch by touch breath by breath toward a new normal
Flying for Her Daughter
Pokrovsk region Ukraine 23 04 2025 Yana a 22-year-old drone pilot rehearses with her new unit practicing FPV flights from a makeshift position Before the war she served as a military journalist then a combat medic in 2023 she retrained to fly drones In August 2024 she was badly wounded by an enemy drone and is still undergoing treatment yet she remains determined to return to duty She says she fears captivity more than death and wants the war ended so her young daughter won t have to follow her path
Teren, the wounded soldier
Kyiv Ukraine 26 06 2023 In his youth Oleksandr Budko known as Teren was inspired by the heroic Ukrainian fighters which fueled his patriotism and led him to join the military when Russia invaded in February 2022 After defending Kyiv and fighting in Kharkiv Teren s life changed drastically when a shell explosion severed his lower legs br Initially overwhelmed by pain panic and disbelief he spent a long time in recovery and rehabilitation Rather than viewing his condition as a disability Teren saw it as a chance for a new kind of service He now uses social media to br advocate for positive mental health and push for reforms in the care of the wounded soldiers embodying a steadfast commitment to his fellow soldiers and his country
Candle of Memory and Peace
On March 31 2023 Bucha marked the first anniversary of its liberation with the Candle of Memory and Peace ceremony at Taras Shevchenko Square Participants lit candles in the shape of Ukraine to honor fallen soldiers from the Bucha community Michaela and Oleksander attended the event from Kyiv Michaela who had fled to Poland is struggling with the mental health impacts of displacement while studying abroad Oleksander unable to leave due to military obligations faces constant stress and fear of being called to service Their experiences highlight the broader emotional challenges faced by refugees and those under the threat of mobilization amid discussions on new army recruitment rules