As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s invasion approached, AP’s Ukraine team set out to capture how lives have been permanently altered. Rather than relying on traditional before-and-after images, global enterprise photo editor David Goldman suggested a more intimate concept: ask survivors to pose holding photographs of themselves taken before the war.
Photographers Efrem Lukatsky and Sergei Grits brought the idea to life, creating striking portraits of Ukrainians confronting their past selves. Reporter Kamila Hrabchuk and senior producer Volodymyr Yurchuk worked against a tight deadline to identify subjects across Kyiv and beyond, navigating damaged infrastructure and difficult travel conditions. Freelance photographer Dan Bashakov contributed additional visuals.
The resulting project featured a dance teacher turned sniper, a 20-year-old man who lost all four limbs in a drone attack and an elderly couple standing amid the ruins of their home. Videographer Srdjan Nedeljkovic added depth to the storytelling, and Dario Lopez crafted a cohesive digital presentation that heightened the emotional impact.
Judges praised the innovative concept and powerful visual execution, noting how the portraits conveyed loss and resilience in a single frame.
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