The beginning of July 2025 in Ukraine marked a new stage of escalation. On the night of July 3-4, Russia launched the most powerful combined strike since the start of its full-scale invasion. Kyiv and at least five other regions of the country were attacked by drones and missiles. Overall, the week from June 30 to July 4 was one of the most intense: more than 500 strikes, dozens of wounded, destroyed buildings, fires, and human casualties.

On July 4, 2022, the Ukrainian military installed the state flag on Zmiiny. This was the final stage of a complex operation to liberate the island by Ukrainian forces. On June 30, the Russian garrison left Zmiiny under the pressure of Ukrainian attacks.

Spring 2014. Ukraine has not yet recovered from the deaths on the Maidan and the annexation of Crimea, as Russia has already swung its south and east. In April, she provoked Kharkiv, Odessa, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. This is how the war began, which continues today — in 2025. War without declaration, but already with weapons in hand. Russia boldly and openly entered the Donbas — under the guise of “referendums”, “people's republics” and “militias”. In some cities, she was repulsed — Kharkiv and Odessa survived. Others were unable to contain the invasion. Donetsk and part of the region were captured. Documentary photographer Anatoly Stepanov was at the center of events. He saw with his own eyes how the scenario of a hybrid invasion unfolded: rallies, seizure of administrative buildings, the appearance of armed “volunteers” from Russia, the first killed. In April 2014, he filmed the funeral of a pro-Ukrainian deputy in Horlivka, stood near the captured district department in Slavyansk, recorded the resistance in Donetsk, Mariupol and the aftermath of the tragedy in Odessa on the morning of May 3 near the burned Trade Union House.

UAPP in partnership with Kyiv Independent continues its monthly column — a selection of key photographs that most accurately convey the events, mood and challenges of the next month of full-scale war.

Ukrainian photographer Olga Ivashchenko explained why she spends much more time with people than is necessary for high-quality photography, and why photos from the war have deeper meanings than meets the eye.