Forgotten On the Line

Too often, the intricate lives of those fighting the war are overshadowed by statistics; reduced to numbers instead of names, their humanity is lost. My goal is to give voice to the individuals behind these numbers.

I first arrived in Ukraine midway through my Master’s degree in International War Studies, intending to stay for just three weeks before returning to “normal life.” Nearly three years later, I find myself still here, living and working across the country, documenting the rapidly evolving face of Europe’s largest war in eighty years. This funding will cover the essential expenses of working along the frontlines—an often costly endeavor where simply breaking even financially is considered a success.

Ukraine, as a nation, is fighting for its survival, with a diverse range of its people stepping forward to fill the trenches. The average age of a Ukrainian soldier is 43; this is a war fought by generations—grandfathers, fathers, and sons. During my time in the trenches, I’ve made many friends and lost many more. My work aims to honor the tragedy of this war and the lives it affects.

A young father, Roma, was the last of his unit alive until he was killed in the battle of Avdiivka. Dima, a pediatric rehabilitation therapist who enlisted early as a medic to save his fellow soldiers, died during a Russian advance. Each loss is a tragedy, but telling their stories is both an honor and a form of justice.