Snapshots of Valor: On the Front Lines of Ukraine's Struggle

Since April 2022, Stephan has been documenting the war in Ukraine. These pictures highlight pivotal moments and the harsh realities of a prolonged and brutal conflict—a conflict that nearly claimed Stephan’s life to a Russian sniper in Bakhmut in April 2023 while he chronicled the heroism of Ukrainian forces. Picture 1: A Ukrainian girl dances before a Banksy mural on a charred building in Bucha, bombed by Russian forces. The mural, a stark contrast to the devastation, speaks to the enduring spirit of the people. Pic 2: shows an elderly lady with her cat near Lyman, just after the area's liberation by Ukrainian forces in October 2022. Stephan, there to photograph and deliver aid, captured her gratitude before she embraced him in a tearful hug. Pic 3: In Bakhmut, December 2022, an elderly couple braves the constant Russian shelling to receive humanitarian aid. Their trek to the town center amidst relentless bombardment underscores the precariousness of survival. Pic 4: Taken in Petropavlovsk, this image highlights the surreal normalcy of war for civilians. A local continues his day less than 1000 meters from the front line, unfazed by nearby shelling and the dangerous mortar shells littering his path. Pic 5: Ukrainian volunteers evacuate a handicapped lady near Kupiansk in August 2023. Her home, first occupied by Russians, then situated perilously close to the front line, was a battleground until her August evacuation. Pic 6: A Ukrainian soldier near Soledar in December 2022 stands resolute despite the punishing winter and brutal shelling. His unit would later retreat from Soledar, pushed out by Wagner forces. Pic 7 captures a machine gun nest on the front line near Kharkiv. Moments after the shot, a barrage of Russian mortar shells forced everyone to seek shelter, a reminder of the constant danger. Pic 8: A young boy and a Ukrainian soldier share a moment on the central square of Kherson during its liberation. The joy and relief of freedom are palpable in their interaction, a bright spot in the grim tableau of war.