THE LIGHT WILL WIN / #SaveAzovstalDefenders

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Photographer

Dmytro (Orest) Kozatsky
Jury Top 5 Selection

Michael Zajakowski I think the world held its breath as the Russians relentlessly attacked the Azovstal steel mill, the last holdout of a devastated Mariupol. This essay took great courage, and it shows great courage in the face of war.
Date of Photograph

April - May 2022
Socials

The pictures were taken inside the Azovstal, the steel plant that was a stronghold and served as a shelter for thousands of people, when Mariupol was being sieged and destroyed by the Russian army during spring 2022. For weeks people stayed there without even any medicine. It is unknown who of these people is still alive - all of them, including the photographer, became prisoners of war. Humanitarian organizations aren't given any access to them. On July 29, 2022, horrendous massacre in Olenivka on russia-controlled territory, happened when explosions took lives of over 50 prisoners of war

Biography

Dmytro (Orest) Kozatsky is a Ukrainian photographer, serviceman of the Azov Battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine. Dmytro was one of the defenders of Mariupol and before he became a prisoner of war he published a link to his unique high-resolution pictures from inside of the Azovstal and asked people to submit them for contests. https://twitter.com/Kozatsky_D/status/1527552273781600256 Dmytro is now a prisoner of war (his condition is unknown) and his pictures are submitted on his behalf to raise awareness about the Ukrainian prisoners of war. Publicity may help to save their lives.
Awards

Grand Press Photo 2022 - special award Live Press Photo 2022 - gold medal P3X - Gold in Press/War, 2nd Place winner in Press