The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, in partnership with FotoEvidence, is implementing a three-year initiative called FotoEvidence Ukraine, which documents the Russian invasion since 2014 through photo books and exhibitions. This large-scale project, supported by the Open Society Foundations and the Renaissance Foundation, aims to preserve the memory of the war and support photographers who risk their lives for the truth.
Photo book as a war archive
The first book published by FotoEvidence, which has become a symbol of documenting the crimes of Russian aggression, is Ukraine: War Crime. This edition contains over 360 photographs and 35 testimonies from more than 90 photojournalists from 29 countries. The book was named “Photo Book of the Year” by the International Photography Awards and was shortlisted for the Arles Historical Book Award 2023.
However, FotoEvidence's work did not end there. This time, in collaboration with the UAAP, it was decided to create a global archive of the war in Ukraine with photographs by Ukrainian photographers, covering the period from 2014 to the present. To this end, from August to November 2024, the new project team accepted applications from Ukrainian photographers and photojournalists. The project was named “Photo Chronicles of the War” — the next step in documenting a history that is still unfolding.
The FotoEvidence Ukraine team is led by Svitlana Bachevanova, the project manager in Ukraine is Olga Kovaleva, and the editor-in-chief is Iryna Hromotska. They spoke about the significance and implementation of this large-scale project.
The emotional dimension of Ukrainian photography
“Working with FotoEvidence on the FotoEvidence Ukraine project is extremely important to us because it allows us to fulfill the UAPP's mission of supporting Ukrainian photographers and promoting Ukrainian photography around the world,” says Olga Kovaleva, project manager in Ukraine. “The upcoming book Photo Chronicles of the War is a concrete example of how we can support our community. It not only documents contemporary history, but also provides Ukrainian artists with a platform for expression and recognition of their work. It is symbolic that the introduction to the book will be written by UAPP founder Mstislav Chernov, emphasizing the unity and significance of this project.”
Svitlana Bachevanova, director of FotoEvidence Ukraine, emphasizes that it is important to give Ukrainian photographers the opportunity to capture the events of the Russian-Ukrainian war. “Ukrainian photographers create unique testimonies that have a deep emotional dimension. They don't just document events, they convey life as it is during war,” Svitlana notes. According to her, the book Photo Chronicles of the War will bring together the work of over 50 photographers. “It will not just be a photo book, but a comprehensive archive of Ukraine's contemporary history that will reveal the human dimension of the conflict,” she emphasizes.
Olga Kovalova says that the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers is a key partner in this project. “We coordinate the involvement of Ukrainian photographers, support the selection of materials for photo books, and ensure their promotion to an international audience. For us, this project is one of the key areas of support for the Ukrainian photography community. We create opportunities for those who risk their lives every day documenting the realities of war so that their voices can be heard around the world. Thanks to our efforts and cooperation with partners such as FotoEvidence, we are showing that photography is not only an art form, but also an important tool for preserving memory and fighting for the truth,” Olga notes.
Working together on historical evidence
The collaboration between FotoEvidence and UAPP is reaching new heights with the launch of FotoEvidence Ukraine, a three-year initiative aimed at publishing photo books every year. “The idea behind this project is to create books that document the war in Ukraine. Every year, we will accept applications from photographers and select the best projects for publication,” says Svetlana Bachevanova. ”Our first publication, Photo Chronicles of War, will be an important addition to our relationship with the UAPP. The book will include works by members of the association and cover the events of the war since 2014.”
According to Svitlana, about 50 photographers have already joined the project, although this number may still change. “It will be a very restrained, documentary depiction of the events that have shaped Ukraine's history over the last decade. The author of the texts is writer Myroslav Lajuk, who will describe the events, while the photographs and captions will provide visual context,” she adds.
The most extensive collection of war photographs
Work on the FotoEvidence and Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP) project is already in its final stages. According to the project's editor-in-chief, Iryna Hromotska, she will soon meet with photo editor Sarah Lynn to finalize the selection of photos for the book. At the same time, a team of designers is working on the visual concept for the publication. “We have also completed the selection process for the next books as part of the collaboration between FotoEvidence and the UAPP. We held an open competition, accepting applications for personal projects from photographers,” adds Iryna.
According to her, the most difficult stage was working with archival materials. A particular challenge for Iryna was finding photographs from the period between 2014 and the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Iryna explains that the team contacted authors who might have preserved the necessary images, obtained and sorted the archives, and worked on structuring them. Based on the collected materials, she and Sarah Lynn are working on selecting the photos that will be included in the publication.
The book Photo Chronicles of the War will be the first and largest collection of photographs taken by Ukrainian artists who have documented the events of the war over the past 10 years. It is a unique project that brings together the work of many photographers, creating a deep and powerful archive of Ukraine's contemporary history. “This book is important for the entire history of war documentation, as it brings together the work of those who live in the conditions of this war and experience it every day,” says Svitlana Bachevanova.
“Photo Chronicles of the War“ is more than a book. It is an archive of our history, our pain and struggle, which we preserve for future generations and show to the world. This collaboration strengthens the role of the UAPP as a cultural and professional hub for Ukrainian photography,” adds Olga Kovaleva.
Olga says that implementing such a large-scale project is always a challenge. According to her, one of the main difficulties was securing funding and coordinating the work of a large number of participants. “However, thanks to the support of the Open Society Foundations and the International Renaissance Foundation, we were able to overcome these barriers. The most important thing for us is to give photographers the opportunity to continue their work and know that their work is valued and supported,“ says Olga.
”The most important thing for us is to give photographers the opportunity to continue their work and know that their work is valued and supported,” says Olga Kovaleva.
A large part of the print run will be donated to libraries, particularly those affected by the war, as well as school libraries. The book will be presented at numerous festivals, from human rights and photojournalism events to panel discussions. “We presented the previous editions at 19 venues in Europe, and we will continue this practice. It is important to remind people that the war is still going on. We must talk about it constantly,” emphasizes Svitlana.
Svitlana Bachevanova emphasizes that the implementation of the Photo Chronicles of War project would not have been possible without the support of key partners: “This initiative became a reality thanks to the Open Society Foundations and the International Renaissance Foundation. They are fully funding the project, and without their support, we would not have been able to do this.”
The first exhibition of “Photo Chronicles of War” will open at the Mystetskyi Arsenal on May 28, 2025. The event will coincide with the Book Arsenal and will be a powerful platform for discussions with photographers and the public. This event is a reminder of the ongoing war and the importance of the truth documented by Ukrainian photography.
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