Juan Curto To honour the lives of the victims of the war in Ukraine
William Snyder A horrible, difficult situation that the photographer has managed to maneuver to tell a fairly complete story. These photographs take us into the middle of this awful war and puts a human face on the cost. It's not about buildings and bridges - these are real human beings caught up in this tragic battle. Excellent job.
Covering the war in Ukraine: I have seen everything dealing with the suffering and pain of war: the immense destruction of daily life; the indiscriminate shelling of schools, shopping centers, and homes; the destroyed livelihoods. The millions of families, especially the women and children who have become refugees of this senseless war, who have had to leave Ukraine behind.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, I was in Afghanistan on assignment for The Wall Street Journal, stressed out that I didn’t manage to enter the country before the airport closed. As my plans came together, I was on my way to Ukraine directly from Kabul. Yes, after covering the forever war in Afghanistan for more than two decades, I was headed to a new conflict. Ukraine, a free and sovereign nation, had been invaded by Putin, officially bringing war back to Europe for the first time since WWII. Covering the war in Ukraine has been unlike any other conflict I have ever experienced. I have documented dozens of funerals and shared tears with family members as they buried their loved ones.In Bucha, I witnessed the war crimes committed with my camera, which were truly horrific. It was the first time I had ever seen bodies with their hands tied, their lifeless forms abandoned behind buildings alongside garbage left by Russian soldiers.
Although it was extremely difficult to photograph, I focused on how important it was to show the world what was happening. Since I’ve been in Ukraine, I have seen everything dealing with the suffering and pain of war: the immense destruction of daily life; the indiscriminate shelling of schools, shopping centers, and homes; the destroyed livelihoods. The millions of families, especially the women and children who have become refugees of this senseless war, who have had to leave Ukraine behind. I have also seen the beauty of nature; how a rainbow lights up the sky in Borodyanka after rain falls on buildings destroyed by Russia’s aerial bombardment. I have witnessed the strength and the incredible spirit of the Ukrainian people, along with their patience and appreciation for the international media who are covering the story.