The Reality of War in Ukraine

Since the onset of the Russian invasion in 2022, I have documented the harsh realities of the conflict along Ukraine’s eastern front lines. However, my home, located far from the immediate violence, had felt relatively secure. That sense of safety was shattered in September when the war reached my family in an unexpected and devastating manner.

While I was away on assignment, a Russian missile struck our car and the apartment where my wife and daughter had been staying while visiting relatives. Although they were fortunate enough to be elsewhere at the time, this incident served as a stark reminder that in Ukraine, there are no truly safe havens.

For nearly three years, the war has divided Ukraine into two distinct realities: one is the perilous regions near the frontline, where the threat of Russian ballistic missiles and guided bombs looms large; the other comprises areas where daily life continues with a semblance of normalcy, yet carries the ever-present anxiety that this fragile peace could shatter at any moment.

In September, I found myself navigating these two worlds. I was in Poltava, a central Ukrainian city with a population of around 300,000, on one of its darkest days since the invasion began. On September 3, two ballistic missiles targeted a military academy, resulting in the tragic loss of 59 lives and injuring over 270 others.

Among the survivors was a young man, just 25 years old, who introduced himself only as Markiyan. He sat on the curb near a rescue tent, where emergency workers were distributing food and water to those affected. Markiyan appeared visibly shaken and disoriented; his clothes were soiled, and his skin bore scratches—a testament to his narrow escape from the deadly explosion. “The first explosion threw me under the stairs. When I attempted to rise and reach the shelter, the second blast struck,” he recounted, his voice trembling with emotion.

The scene around Markiyan was chaotic yet filled with moments of human resilience. Ukrainian firefighters and rescue workers were tirelessly working at the site of the missile attack, providing aid and comfort amidst the devastation. This tragic event highlighted the ongoing struggle and the complex reality faced by those in Ukraine, living with the constant threat of violence while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in their lives.