We continue to share the documentary projects of the finalists within the framework of the grant support of documentary photographers from the UAFF, implemented with the support of the International Press Institute.
Oleksandr Babenko worked in film production in Kyiv before the full-scale invasion. Due to his specialized education as a journalist, after the beginning of a full-scale invasion, he began working with foreign media as a producer, since September 2022 as a photographer. He is now focused on covering news and producing reports near the dividing line. The story is about a week in the life of twenty-year-old guys who became veterans.
Donetsk region. Snow falls to the ground, covering bare plantings, debris from arrivals and uncultivated land. At four o'clock in the evening. In one of the huts, where the curtains still cover the doorways, and portraits of previous residents remain on the walls, the military live. For 11 months, Donetsk region has been home to them.
“Kashi”, 25, he is the oldest of the crew, always carries two things with him: his token and that of a deceased friend. The “porridge” hit was initially a cook, but could not sit in the rear while the comrades were on the line and transferred to the air intelligence warehouse. It is warm at home, batteries for drones are charged next to Soviet books, BC stands on a wiped carpet, shops lie next to bags of products, war has become everyday, but in the evening this is not palpable. This house is more like a student apartment. The guys prick each other, music plays from the bluetooth speaker, someone watches YouTube, someone plays cards. 4 in the morning, on the thermometer - 11. The crew has been loaded into a jeep since the 1990s and sent to the position. Departure occurs so early as to minimize the likelihood of being spotted by enemy drones. The road is perhaps the greatest danger in this work. Against the driver at the same time is the old car, the weather conditions, the risk of being hit by the enemy and bad roads. At the wheel, Maly, he is 20. Half of his life the war goes on. Coming from the temporarily occupied territories, he met a full-scale invasion as one of the first. On the morning of February 24, 2022, along with other volunteers, he left his hometown. Father, along with his sister, were waiting for him on the ring road to hand over a backpack of things of first need: “Sister is in tears, the tear itself is rolled up. He gives everything that was. All money, cigarettes. Sister gives two packs of joints. I see, I am already beating with tears, and I am being warned that they are shaking. I hugged, kissed and everything, hugged.” “Little” was no longer at home.
At dawn, the crew begins work: having hidden the car, unfolding the antenna and securely covered in the bunker, the guys lift the drone. On the back of the “Blanco”, next to the yellow blue flag, a chevron with a skull “There will be no rotation. We are here until the end.” This chevron is in many of the division, the first to wear it was “Gaze”. Bohdan “Geyzu” is also 20. But, forever. A guy from Lviv region, with a snow-white smile when the full-scale invasion began, worked in Poland, but returned and left as a volunteer. On August 18, 2023, Bohdan died while performing a combat mission.
“Gaze, Blanco, and Small were given their first military experience in the infantry. “Hayz”, recalling, said: “Near Bakhmut, winter, - 20. We and the whole BC have reached new positions. It is impossible to dig anything. We come, lay down on the ground and ask each other if we're going to die today and laugh.”
“Blanco” is twenty years old, he is the youngest in the unit. The callsign is such, because he was born in Spain, performs the duties of a crew commander. A year has passed without a month, the situation is different. This position is happiness, the reliable concrete walls and the location of the bunker underground allow you to feel calm. Trench candles warm up, and “Blanco” and “Small” take turns making flights looking for the enemy and adjusting artillery fire. The batteries of the drone and the position of the sun change, the day passes. Again in the darkness, the crew leaves the position.
Not enough work positions. You need to repair cars, keep yourself in shape, live. Trips to the supermarket, military market and coffee dilute military tasks and allow you to build a familiar routine.
- “Blanco”, what will you tell your grandchildren about your brothers?
- “Small”? We always go somewhere, have fun, music is all over. The bag, the bear, he looks the most like him to me. Straight so good-natured, in whom you are 100% sure that he will not abandon you. Even more, for him honor first, then money.”
- Will you talk about “Giza”?
- Of course, about “Geyza”, about “Modnik”, there is a lot to talk about, do not forget about everyone.
The memory of Bohdan “Geyz” Pidhaini with whom, I was lucky to meet and photograph him during his work. To the memory of everyone who gave their lives for freedom.
Oleksandr Babenko — documentary photographer, videographer from Kharkov. During the events of the Revolution of Dignity, he decided to study journalism and obtained a master's degree in journalism from the Ukrainian Catholic University. Before the full-scale invasion, he worked in film production in Kiev. From the end of February 2022, he began working as a local producer for foreign media in the frontline territories. Focused on news coverage and reporting near the dividing line. He frequently collaborates with the Associated Press, EPA, Getty Images, Reuters, and others.
Mostly works in Donetsk region. He worked extensively in Bakhmut and continues to cover this direction of the front.
He paid maximum attention to highlighting the consequences of Russian aggression on the civilian population and documenting the work of the Ukrainian military. He covered the liberation of Andreyevka, the consequences of the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in Kherson, the defense of Bakhmut, the liberation of Kharkiv region and other events of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
We continue to share the documentary projects of the finalists within the framework of the grant support of documentary photographers from the UAFF, implemented with the support of the International Press Institute.
Oleksandr Babenko worked in film production in Kyiv before the full-scale invasion. Due to his specialized education as a journalist, after the beginning of a full-scale invasion, he began working with foreign media as a producer, since September 2022 as a photographer. He is now focused on covering news and producing reports near the dividing line. The story is about a week in the life of twenty-year-old guys who became veterans.
Donetsk region. Snow falls to the ground, covering bare plantings, debris from arrivals and uncultivated land. At four o'clock in the evening. In one of the huts, where the curtains still cover the doorways, and portraits of previous residents remain on the walls, the military live. For 11 months, Donetsk region has been home to them.
“Kashi”, 25, he is the oldest of the crew, always carries two things with him: his token and that of a deceased friend. The “porridge” hit was initially a cook, but could not sit in the rear while the comrades were on the line and transferred to the air intelligence warehouse. It is warm at home, batteries for drones are charged next to Soviet books, BC stands on a wiped carpet, shops lie next to bags of products, war has become everyday, but in the evening this is not palpable. This house is more like a student apartment. The guys prick each other, music plays from the bluetooth speaker, someone watches YouTube, someone plays cards. 4 in the morning, on the thermometer - 11. The crew has been loaded into a jeep since the 1990s and sent to the position. Departure occurs so early as to minimize the likelihood of being spotted by enemy drones. The road is perhaps the greatest danger in this work. Against the driver at the same time is the old car, the weather conditions, the risk of being hit by the enemy and bad roads. At the wheel, Maly, he is 20. Half of his life the war goes on. Coming from the temporarily occupied territories, he met a full-scale invasion as one of the first. On the morning of February 24, 2022, along with other volunteers, he left his hometown. Father, along with his sister, were waiting for him on the ring road to hand over a backpack of things of first need: “Sister is in tears, the tear itself is rolled up. He gives everything that was. All money, cigarettes. Sister gives two packs of joints. I see, I am already beating with tears, and I am being warned that they are shaking. I hugged, kissed and everything, hugged.” “Little” was no longer at home.
At dawn, the crew begins work: having hidden the car, unfolding the antenna and securely covered in the bunker, the guys lift the drone. On the back of the “Blanco”, next to the yellow blue flag, a chevron with a skull “There will be no rotation. We are here until the end.” This chevron is in many of the division, the first to wear it was “Gaze”. Bohdan “Geyzu” is also 20. But, forever. A guy from Lviv region, with a snow-white smile when the full-scale invasion began, worked in Poland, but returned and left as a volunteer. On August 18, 2023, Bohdan died while performing a combat mission.
“Gaze, Blanco, and Small were given their first military experience in the infantry. “Hayz”, recalling, said: “Near Bakhmut, winter, - 20. We and the whole BC have reached new positions. It is impossible to dig anything. We come, lay down on the ground and ask each other if we're going to die today and laugh.”
“Blanco” is twenty years old, he is the youngest in the unit. The callsign is such, because he was born in Spain, performs the duties of a crew commander. A year has passed without a month, the situation is different. This position is happiness, the reliable concrete walls and the location of the bunker underground allow you to feel calm. Trench candles warm up, and “Blanco” and “Small” take turns making flights looking for the enemy and adjusting artillery fire. The batteries of the drone and the position of the sun change, the day passes. Again in the darkness, the crew leaves the position.
Not enough work positions. You need to repair cars, keep yourself in shape, live. Trips to the supermarket, military market and coffee dilute military tasks and allow you to build a familiar routine.
- “Blanco”, what will you tell your grandchildren about your brothers?
- “Small”? We always go somewhere, have fun, music is all over. The bag, the bear, he looks the most like him to me. Straight so good-natured, in whom you are 100% sure that he will not abandon you. Even more, for him honor first, then money.”
- Will you talk about “Giza”?
- Of course, about “Geyza”, about “Modnik”, there is a lot to talk about, do not forget about everyone.
The memory of Bohdan “Geyz” Pidhaini with whom, I was lucky to meet and photograph him during his work. To the memory of everyone who gave their lives for freedom.
Oleksandr Babenko — documentary photographer, videographer from Kharkov. During the events of the Revolution of Dignity, he decided to study journalism and obtained a master's degree in journalism from the Ukrainian Catholic University. Before the full-scale invasion, he worked in film production in Kiev. From the end of February 2022, he began working as a local producer for foreign media in the frontline territories. Focused on news coverage and reporting near the dividing line. He frequently collaborates with the Associated Press, EPA, Getty Images, Reuters, and others.
Mostly works in Donetsk region. He worked extensively in Bakhmut and continues to cover this direction of the front.
He paid maximum attention to highlighting the consequences of Russian aggression on the civilian population and documenting the work of the Ukrainian military. He covered the liberation of Andreyevka, the consequences of the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in Kherson, the defense of Bakhmut, the liberation of Kharkiv region and other events of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.
UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.
UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.
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