Ukraine: Updates from Magnum Photographers in the Field

Lorenzo Meloni – Kyiv – 1 March

“Today I spent an hour or two on the streets of Kyiv. The logistics are very complicated as most of the fixers have left or decided to fight. The same goes for having a driver or just a car. Apart from the bombing of a TV antenna the situation is tense but calm. It’s probably the calm before the storm, as I can see on the news that there is a 40 miles-long column of tanks at the gates of Kyiv. 

Along the streets, I found many barricades and checkpoints set up by citizens. I saw many young people, especially in the suburbs, protecting their neighborhoods. I don’t know if they know or not that those barricades won’t stop any tanks. But I didn’t feel I had to tell them that if they want to hope so”

– Lorenzo Meloni

Meloni is being supported by the Emergency Reporting Commission, a new initiative that supports reporters covering breaking news in conflict areas, independently of media outlets. Initiated by Obscura, photographers are funded by the sale of NFTs. 100% of the proceeds of the Emergency Reporting Commission are distributed amongst selected active photographers on the ground to support their efforts to document during moments of conflict. Find out more here. 

Emin Özmen – Lviv – February 26

“In wintry temperatures, people try to flee the Ukrainian city of Lviv. According to UN figures, more than half a million people have left Ukraine since the Russian invasion began. ‘Over 500,000 refugees have now fled Ukraine to neighboring countries,’ wrote UN Refugee Commissioner Filippo Grandi on Twitter,” reports Der Spiegel, with photographs by Emin Özmen

Rafał Milach – Poland –  February 25/26

“Thousands of Ukrainians arrive at the border crossings to the eastern EU countries; there could be millions. They are given a friendly welcome. But many refugees ask themselves: What happens now?” asks an article in Der Spiegel that uses Rafał Milach’s photos to show the activity at the Polish border.

Stuart Franklin – London – February 26

Demonstrations against the Russian invasion of Ukraine outside Downing Street and the Russian embassy in Notting Hill. The ‘Stand with Ukraine’ rally was attended by the Ukrainian diaspora and their supporters.

William Keo – Paris – February 26

Citizens of Paris have gathered every day to protest since Russian operations in Ukraine commenced on 24 February. William Keo photographed one of the demonstrations, which was addressed by Vadym Omelchenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to France.

Thomas Dworzak – Paris – February 26

Crowds gathered at Place de la République in Paris in a show of support for Ukraine and to demonstrate against the Russian invasion.

Lorenzo Meloni – Mariupol – February 24

Lorenzo Meloni was in the the city of Mariupol as the city was shelled by the Russian navy. “On the morning of Friday 25 February, Russian forces had still not broken through the Ukrainian lines. But the risk of being caught off guard and subjected to a siege has become obvious to everyone. Between the rumours of an amphibious landing west of the city, the fear of aerial bombardments and the rapid advance of Russian troops from Crimea to Melitopol (170 kilometres to the west), the nerves of the Mariupolitans are being put to the test,” wrote Emmanuel Grynszpan in Le Monde where these photos were first published here and here.

Nanna Heitmann – Donbas – February 11-24

Nanna Heitmann documented the lead-up to war in the pro-Russian, self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the initial arrival of Russian forces. In the weeks ahead of the Russian forces’ full-scale, early-morning attack of Ukraine, attempts at diplomacy and hopes that a resolution could be found ended in failure. In the pro-Russia separatist regions, citizens and families of military personnel were ordered to leave their country for Russia. Men, aged 18 to 55, were ordered to remain in place and report for duty. In the early morning hours of Feb. 24, 2022, Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine.

Nanna Heitmann’s photos illustrate a Libération feature about the conflict. Her work also features on the cover of Zeit, Internazionale, and TIME, and in the Washington Post (here and here).

Thomas Dworzak – Kyiv – February 1

In Kyiv, Thomas Dworzak witnesses anti-Putin marches and civilian training by the Azov batallion. At the time, Russia was stationing troops along its border with Ukraine, while denying any intention to invade the country.

Paolo Pellegrin – Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine – 2019

Former comedian and actor Volodymyr Zelensky was elected President of Ukraine April 21, 2019 and inaugurated May 20, 2019. Pellegrin’s portrait was used on the cover of Time Magazine.