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Claire Harbage/NPR
Final January, I visited Ukraine for the primary time — earlier than the Russian invasion — and I ended up spending over half of the yr there. On quite a few journeys, I traveled forwards and backwards throughout the nation, protecting 1000’s of miles and attending to know the place and the folks. I’ve labored with unbelievable groups of native journalists, producers and drivers, photographing the results of battle.
This has given me the time to get to know not solely how the battle is being waged on the frontlines however how the present battle has modified the lives of on a regular basis Ukrainians in methods which might be financial, cultural, environmental, psychological and private. I’ve seen enormous challenges for folks and coated quite a lot of heartbreaking tales. However I’ve additionally skilled folks overcoming these obstacles with resilience.
Up to now yr, I’ve seen how the battle has affected lives in Ukraine and the way shortly these results have spilled over into the remainder of the world. I photographed the sudden migration originally of the battle — the flood of people that left by means of Lviv and on to Poland — and I even later adopted some to their new properties in Europe and the U.S. And I’ve photographed the gradual return of others as areas have been liberated and as folks have grown extra accustomed to residing in a battle zone.
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
I’ve labored on some actually considerate tales with superb NPR reporters, digging into points involving the setting, schooling, labor, power and international commerce. The battle has modified the lives of Ukrainians, however the power and resilience that continues to be as folks wrestle by means of this expertise has additionally been a relentless a part of the story.
When people are at their worst, waging wars in opposition to one another, it is superb how straightforward it’s to additionally discover people at their perfect on the similar time. Whereas protecting this battle, I’ve seen examples of each of those extremes. I spent days photographing the arduous work of Ukrainian crews exhuming tons of of our bodies from a mass grave web site in Izium. And on different days, I used to be fed meals by shell-shocked grandmothers residing in war-damaged residence buildings who did not have warmth, however nonetheless wished to share their generosity.
With experiences like these repeating themselves time and again, a yr has handed and I am nonetheless returning to Ukraine to maintain following the story because it unfolds. And whereas I’ve seen the nation and the folks change from what it was once I first arrived, and I’ve seen quite a lot of darkish issues, I’ve additionally discovered magnificence within the place and the folks right here. There are even moments of pleasure, as Ukrainians proceed to dwell their lives regardless of the troublesome circumstances.
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
Claire Harbage/NPR
This story was edited by Emily Bogle and Zach Thompson. Picture enhancing by Emily Bogle.
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