Russia-Ukraine war - Matej Povse photographer

This Is War!

What you see is a photography series on war. There are no heroes in war, only victims. I don’t consider myself brave for having witnessed the events that (sadly) continue to unfold and for having captured them, using light. I am a photographer whose message is: Never again. A photographer who photographs war, among other things, but is no war photographer. I admit I may be naive to think that these images or their implications can impact the course of history.

Now and then, my work feels as if I’m merely screaming into the void. This is why, dear visitor, I’m counting on you to let the dreadful fates of these individuals alter your views and shake you out of any apathy that you may feel. That you can be one of those who start shouting at the top of their voices: Enough! Enough with the killing. Enough with the bombs. That you can be one of those who help the fleeing people we call refugees, and make your contribution as big as your heart. And, above all, that you can be one of those who do everything in their power not to let something similar happen to them.

Tears are not enough. They are only the beginning.

The photographs were taken in my three weeks of capturing events in Ukraine. They were taken in and around the capital of Kyiv and in Lviv in western Ukraine. Places that were under attack in the past weeks and continue to see fighting today. Places where people have to hurriedly pack all their belongings in one suitcase and leave their homes behind, along with everything they have. Some get hit by an artillery projectile and never make it to safety.

Three photographs show beautiful sunlit faces of the cities and their imposing architecture. Still, each image contains something that suggests these are cities at war.

I can’t tell you to enjoy. I can only hope you don’t shut your eyes to it.

Please note: this photos contains graphic images of war.

An unidentified man is approaches at Ukrainian military checkpoint between Irpin and Kyiv,

War in Ukraine, March 13, 2022

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Frontline at Irpin close to Kyiv.

War in Ukraine, March 11, 2022

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Frontline at Irpin close to Kyiv.

War in Ukraine, March 11, 2022

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Member of Territorial defence a the site on the aftermath of an air strike in the southern suburb of Markhalivka near Kyiv. Ukraine, War in Ukraine, March 7, 2022

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Frontline at Irpin close to Kyiv.

War in Ukraine, March 11, 2022

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Frontline at Irpin close to Kyiv.

War in Ukraine, March 11, 2022

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Ukrainian soldier in combat position at between Irpin and Kyiv,

War in Ukraine, March 13, 2022

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Empty street of Irpin near Kyiv,

War in Ukraine, March 13, 2022

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The corpse of a Russian soldier.

Frontline at Irpin close to Kyiv.

War in Ukraine, March 11, 2022

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The corpse is carried by the soldiers, Irpin,

War in Ukraine, March 12, 2022Frontline at Irpin close to Kyiv.

War in Ukraine, March 11, 2022

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A corpse and a looter on the street of Irpin near Kyiv,

War in Ukraine, March 13, 2022

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The corpse on the street of Irpin near Kyiv,

War in Ukraine, March 13, 2022

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The corpse on the street of Irpin near Kyiv,

War in Ukraine, March 13, 2022

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Garves of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action. Lychakiv cemetery, Lviv

War in Ukraine, March 16, 2022

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Funer of Ukrainian soldier killed in action. Lychakiv cemetery, Lviv

War in Ukraine, March 16, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine arriving by bus at border crossing Medyka, Poland. War in Ukraine, February 26, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv are fleeing the fight, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine

at the train station Lviv, Ukraine, War in Ukraine, March 16, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine

at the train station Lviv, Ukraine, War in Ukraine, March 16, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine

at the train station Lviv, Ukraine, War in Ukraine, March 2, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine

at the train station Lviv, Ukraine, War in Ukraine, March 2, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine

at the train station Lviv, Ukraine, War in Ukraine, March 2, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine arriving by bus at border crossing Medyka, Poland. War in Ukraine, February 26, 2022

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Fleeing residents of the town Irpin close to Kyiv hidden in the van as artillery echoes nearby, War in Ukraine, March 8, 2022

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Refugees from Ukraine

at the train station Przemysl, Poland, War in Ukraine February 27, 2022

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People in the shelter during the alarm alert for possible shelling. Lviv, Ukraine, War in Ukraine, February 28, 2022

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An apartment building hit by shelling in the Obolon district of Kyiv,

War in Ukraine, March 14, 2022

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Residents of Kyiv are digging firing trenches,

War in Ukraine, March 14, 2022

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A smoke trail of an interceptor missile, Kyiv

War in Ukraine, March 14, 2022

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Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), Kyiv.

War in Ukraine, March 11, 2022

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