Photoreports

“As a kid, Christmas felt like a dream,” says Jag. Now, as I stand holding a small Christmas tree in front of my friend—dressed in full body armor, a man who hasn’t had a real holiday in years—he doesn’t even blink.

On January 6, Ukrainians across the country marked Epiphany with a time-honored tradition—plunging into icy waters to renew their faith. Despite ongoing challenges from Russia’s war, the ritual of immersing in frigid rivers, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, remains a powerful expression of Ukraine’s cultural resilience and spiritual renewal.

This year, we documented powerful stories across Ukraine—from frontline realities to personal moments—capturing the ongoing impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Most of the work of the frogsmen from the 73rd Special Operations Forces Center remains beyond the reach of cameras. Yet this single frame reveals the conditions in which their professionalism is shaped—and their endurance tested—long before any mission begins.

An increasing number of Ukrainian documentaries are embracing a “mosaic” style of storytelling, opting for a self-sufficient narrative that eschews voice-over narration. With an unflinching vision, Kateryna Gornostai’s Timestamp portrays Ukrainian children navigating classrooms amidst the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale war, offering an intimate, hyper-focused account of youth and teachers.

With winter coming, Russia has been increasing its attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving cities without essential services like heat, water, or electricity. Despite these harsh challenges, children’s clubs in Ukraine are adapting to the outages, utilizing charging stations and generators.