For the last twenty years, Paolo Pellegrin has been covering some of the most dangerous conflict zones around the world, including Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon. As he sets off on his missions, Pellegrin finds himself battling with mundane concerns such as leaving the lights on or the oven unattended. However, his thoughts quickly turn to the daunting task of “putting himself on the edge of an abyss,” a reflection of his dedication to his work as a photographer. For Pellegrin, the essence of his profession is intrinsically linked to the historic value of the images he captures. He notes that photographs create a record that holds a memory and understands his responsibility to document critical moments in history.
Despite making a promise to himself that the 2016 battle to retake Mosul, Iraq, would be his last trip due to his young family, Pellegrin reconsidered after Russia invaded Ukraine. He believes that the outcome of this conflict will shape not only Ukraine but also the rest of the world. As a result, Pellegrin has traveled to Ukraine four times since the violence began. His pictures of the front lines, offensives, retreats, and evacuations accompany Anne Applebaum and Jeffrey Goldberg’s recent cover story about the stakes of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. His photography makes the distant war more tangible by highlighting and revealing life beyond the battlefield.
Pellegrin’s photographic focus is not limited to the battle lines. Instead, he examines how the war resonates in civilian spaces. While fighting on the battlefield follows a particular order, the shells still fall in non-combatant areas. Pellegrin’s pictures reveal aspects of war that often linger beyond the conflict’s end, such as the elderly selling their possessions by the roadside, individuals waiting in line for bread, and families living in semi-destroyed buildings with no heating. The impact of the conflict goes beyond physical damage, and Pellegrin captures this beautifully in his images.
The photographs below by Pellegrin showcase the aftermath of war in Ukraine in more ways than one. They reveal the devastation of Russian air strikes, the impact on local civilians, and the struggles of Ukrainian soldiers returning from the front lines. They depict how war affects not only the combatants but also the families and communities they left behind. Pellegrin’s images of trenches, spent shells, and trauma clinics offer an insight into daily life amid a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
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