Daria Svertilova

Ukrainian women and girls through the war I came across this open call shortly before the 24th of February, and I decided to share some of the images of Ukrainian women and girls I had the chance to photograph over four years of the full-scale invasion. Women and non-binary persons who enlisted in the army, a mother who had to hide during night attacks with a newborn, sisters growing up under occupation, a couple who went on holiday and became refugees - these are only a few stories from the multitude of dangerous and tragic experiences Ukrainian women live through daily. Yet, while working on a personal series or on assignment, I never wanted to portray my subjects as victims. They are brave and strong personalities whom I deeply admire, and I wanted this to come through in their portraits. In order of appearance: 
 Anya & Diana, Paris
 Hanna, Kyiv
 Klementyna, Dnipro
 Sasha with her son, Kyiv
 Iraina, Tetiana, Olga in Dobromyl (shelter for internally displaced persons)