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Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Donetsk regions - Ukraine, April 2022 - Ongoing
The war in Eastern Ukraine continues to escalate as it entered the third year since Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered its full-scale invasion after months of diplomatic tensions. However, hostilities in the Donbas region started in 2014, and many civilians have been forced to relocate to Western Ukraine or European countries. Those who decided to stay in frontline towns often lived in basements of bombed and burned-out buildings without basic amenities, primarily relying on the help of volunteers providing them with drinking water, food, and petrol for generators under constant threat of artillery fire. The United Nations estimated that eight million people are internally displaced, and a further eight million have left the country; at least ten thousand civilians have been killed since February 2022, and civilian casualties are believed to be significantly higher since the UN has been unable to visit areas where hostilities are taking place. In 2023, Russian forces frequently targeted critical civilian infrastructures, leaving the Ukrainian population without electricity, water and heating. Civilian gatherings have also been targeted, especially restaurants, hotels, and markets, often struck by Iskander ballistic missiles, such as the RIA restaurant in Kramatorsk in June, Druzhba Hotel in Pokrovsk in August, and a cafe' in Hroza where one-fifth of the village was killed during a funeral vigil in October 2023. The war is currently fought with positional warfare without significant gains by either side or a clear end. Military casualties have been treated as classified information since the beginning of the war by both sides. However, American intelligence services state that the losses of both armies may be as high as five hundred thousand. The relentless bombardments have left a trail of destruction, crippling Ukraine's infrastructure, economy, and way of life, leaving every Ukrainian affected by the ongoing conflict. This work was possible thanks to the help of local producers Maxim, Sergey, and Alexey with the support of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine. Indian Photo Festival Ms. Magazine Getty Images Archive |
