News Stories

Debris, flowers, and extreme fatigue. Consequences of the missile attack on Vinnytsia in the photos of Roman Pylypiy

3.1.2024
2
min read

On the afternoon of July 14, 2022, the Russian military struck Kalibr missiles in the center of Vinnytsia. As a result of the shelling, 29 people were killed, including children. July 15 in Vinnytsia and the region was declared a day of mourning for the dead.

Today, the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes photos of Roman Pylypiy, taken after the missile attack in Vinnytsia.

White birds

On July 14, 2022, at 10:15 AM, an air alarm sounded in Vinnytsia. Half an hour later, reports of explosions began to appear. Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ignat said the strike was caused by Russian Kalibr missiles launched from a submarine in the Black Sea. The missile strike occurred during a conference in The Hague on holding Russia accountable for war crimes.

Household house “Jubilee” in Vinnytsia. July 15, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

As a result of rocket fire, the Officers' House was destroyed, the medical center located in the Jubilee House was completely burned down, and more than half a hundred cars were destroyed and damaged. 29 people died in Vinnytsia, including children. More than 200 residents and guests of the city were injured.

On Victory Square, where the Caliber missiles hit, a memorial sign “Victims of missile strikes on Vinnitsa” was erected. The silhouettes of 29 white birds soaring into the sky symbolize the dead.

People carry toys and flowers to the site of the terrorist attack in Vinnytsia. According to official data, 26 people died, including three children (a 4-year-old girl and boys 7 and 8 years old). Another 202 people sought medical help. 8 people are missing. July 15, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

Black Earth

Photographer Roman Pylypiy came to Vinnytsia from Kyiv. He learned of the rocket attack and was already in the city at five in the evening.

“I was struck by the scale of the destruction. It was a very strong missile strike: many burned cars, destroyed buildings, destroyed houses and, unfortunately, many dead,” says Roman Pylypiy.

Destroyed cars in Vinnitsa near the epicenter of the missile strike. 14-15 July 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

Residential buildings located next to Victory Square were badly damaged by the blast wave. Photographer Roman Pylypiy came to the property and talked with the locals. People without further questions were allowed into the apartment, told about rocket fire.

“I remember the guy who removed the broken glass, and he himself was badly wounded, all chopped off. He rented an apartment in the house and did not know what to do next and where to go,” Roman Pylypiy recalls.

The photographer emphasizes that first he always asks about people's well-being, and then - permission to shoot


People clean up in and near their homes. Jul 14, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

“In Vinnitsa, no one refused me, people wanted to show the consequences of shelling and tell about what they experienced. I took out the general plan from the window, which clearly shows the work of rescuers,” says Roman.

Most of all, he remembered the firefighters who worked practically without rest.

“The rescuers and firefighters did an incredible job. At the end of the day, they were extremely tired and, to get at least a little rest, they just lay down on the ground. They recovered from everything they had to do and see,” says Roman.

The photographer stayed in Vinnytsia and the next day he filmed how the area was being cleaned and the memory of the dead was honored. People carried toys and fresh flowers to the scene of the tragedy all day.


Rescuers rest near the “Jubilee” household house in Vinnytsia. July 14, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

Roman Pylypiy — Ukrainian freelance photographer from Kyiv, Ukraine. Member of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers since 2023. From 2017 to 2022, he lived and worked in Beijing, China. He worked with the EPA for many years, later with Getty Images. Roman now works with AFP as a freelancer. The photographer has several significant awards: Photographer of the Year, POY Asia 2022, NPPA Award winner, nominee for The Guardian Photographer of the Year in 2019 and 2022. In 2023, his photo with Bucha became a finalist in the POY contest.

Photographer's social networks: Facebook, Instagram

The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Kateryna Moskalyuk
Bild-editor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar

Read also: Molten metal and birds in the sky. Consequences of the strike on Kremenchuk in the photos of Evgeny Zavgorodny

The project is implemented thanks to support of ZMIN.

On the afternoon of July 14, 2022, the Russian military struck Kalibr missiles in the center of Vinnytsia. As a result of the shelling, 29 people were killed, including children. July 15 in Vinnytsia and the region was declared a day of mourning for the dead.

Today, the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes photos of Roman Pylypiy, taken after the missile attack in Vinnytsia.

White birds

On July 14, 2022, at 10:15 AM, an air alarm sounded in Vinnytsia. Half an hour later, reports of explosions began to appear. Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ignat said the strike was caused by Russian Kalibr missiles launched from a submarine in the Black Sea. The missile strike occurred during a conference in The Hague on holding Russia accountable for war crimes.

Household house “Jubilee” in Vinnytsia. July 15, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

As a result of rocket fire, the Officers' House was destroyed, the medical center located in the Jubilee House was completely burned down, and more than half a hundred cars were destroyed and damaged. 29 people died in Vinnytsia, including children. More than 200 residents and guests of the city were injured.

On Victory Square, where the Caliber missiles hit, a memorial sign “Victims of missile strikes on Vinnitsa” was erected. The silhouettes of 29 white birds soaring into the sky symbolize the dead.

People carry toys and flowers to the site of the terrorist attack in Vinnytsia. According to official data, 26 people died, including three children (a 4-year-old girl and boys 7 and 8 years old). Another 202 people sought medical help. 8 people are missing. July 15, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

Black Earth

Photographer Roman Pylypiy came to Vinnytsia from Kyiv. He learned of the rocket attack and was already in the city at five in the evening.

“I was struck by the scale of the destruction. It was a very strong missile strike: many burned cars, destroyed buildings, destroyed houses and, unfortunately, many dead,” says Roman Pylypiy.

Destroyed cars in Vinnitsa near the epicenter of the missile strike. 14-15 July 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

Residential buildings located next to Victory Square were badly damaged by the blast wave. Photographer Roman Pylypiy came to the property and talked with the locals. People without further questions were allowed into the apartment, told about rocket fire.

“I remember the guy who removed the broken glass, and he himself was badly wounded, all chopped off. He rented an apartment in the house and did not know what to do next and where to go,” Roman Pylypiy recalls.

The photographer emphasizes that first he always asks about people's well-being, and then - permission to shoot


People clean up in and near their homes. Jul 14, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

“In Vinnitsa, no one refused me, people wanted to show the consequences of shelling and tell about what they experienced. I took out the general plan from the window, which clearly shows the work of rescuers,” says Roman.

Most of all, he remembered the firefighters who worked practically without rest.

“The rescuers and firefighters did an incredible job. At the end of the day, they were extremely tired and, to get at least a little rest, they just lay down on the ground. They recovered from everything they had to do and see,” says Roman.

The photographer stayed in Vinnytsia and the next day he filmed how the area was being cleaned and the memory of the dead was honored. People carried toys and fresh flowers to the scene of the tragedy all day.


Rescuers rest near the “Jubilee” household house in Vinnytsia. July 14, 2023. Photo by Roman Pylypiy

Roman Pylypiy — Ukrainian freelance photographer from Kyiv, Ukraine. Member of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers since 2023. From 2017 to 2022, he lived and worked in Beijing, China. He worked with the EPA for many years, later with Getty Images. Roman now works with AFP as a freelancer. The photographer has several significant awards: Photographer of the Year, POY Asia 2022, NPPA Award winner, nominee for The Guardian Photographer of the Year in 2019 and 2022. In 2023, his photo with Bucha became a finalist in the POY contest.

Photographer's social networks: Facebook, Instagram

The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Kateryna Moskalyuk
Bild-editor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar

Read also: Molten metal and birds in the sky. Consequences of the strike on Kremenchuk in the photos of Evgeny Zavgorodny

The project is implemented thanks to support of ZMIN.

Continue reading

News Story
3.10.2024
CABs in sleeping Kharkiv and evacuation in the middle of the night. The consequences of the Russian attack on the Saltovka 5-storey building in the photos of Ivan Samoilov
News Story
1.10.2024
Шість авіабомб на Запоріжжя. Наслідки російської атаки на світлинах Катерини Клочкової та Дмитра Смолієнка
News Story
28.9.2024
What did the international press publish in September? A selection of photos by Ukrainian documentary filmmakers
View all news

Our partners

We tell the world about Ukraine through the prism of photography.

Join and support the community of Ukrainian photographers.

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.

Support and join us