Along Closed Roads of Ukraine

For over eleven years, Ukraine has been embroiled in a war with Russia, which commenced in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the occupation of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions by Russian-backed forces. The lack of significant international repercussions for these initial acts of aggression allowed Russia’s imperial ambitions to grow unchecked, culminating in the full-scale invasion of 2022.

Today, three years into this brutal, large-scale conflict, the initial solidarity of Ukraine’s allies shows signs of strain. The stated commitment to support Ukraine indefinitely is being challenged by national self-interest. While Ukraine endures relentless destruction, this conflict between pledges of aid and the desire to maintain a safe distance raises a sobering question: can smaller nations truly be secure when they find themselves in the geopolitical sphere of influence of a far more powerful and aggressive neighbor?

While the allies are still discussing how to stop Russia, Ukraine is losing more and more of its citizens in a desperate attempt to stay independent.

Grandmother talks to her grandson, 11-year-old Daniil, after his father's funeral. Vladimir, Daniil’s father, served in the special forces and was killed in action. 23.03.2022, Kyiv, Ukraine

Grandmother talks to her grandson, 11-year-old Daniil, after his father's funeral. Vladimir, Daniil’s father, served in the special forces and was killed in action. 23.03.2022, Kyiv, Ukraine

Natallia, 44 years old, in the hospital in Brovary, Keiv region. Natallia was wounded in leg on March, 14 in Chernihiv. 24.03.2022, Brovary, Kyiv region, Ukraine

Natallia, 44 years old, in the hospital in Brovary, Keiv region. Natallia was wounded in leg on March, 14 in Chernihiv. 24.03.2022, Brovary, Kyiv region, Ukraine

A woman is giving birth to a baby in one of the Kyiv hospitals. 30.03.2022, Kyiv, Ukraine

A woman is giving birth to a baby in one of the Kyiv hospitals. 30.03.2022, Kyiv, Ukraine

Traces of a mortar shell explosion in the parking lot of a shopping center in the village of Stoyanka. 31.03.2022, Stoyanka village, Kyiv area, Ukraine

Traces of a mortar shell explosion in the parking lot of a shopping center in the village of Stoyanka. 31.03.2022, Stoyanka village, Kyiv area, Ukraine

Dead bodies found in the basement of a summer camp lay before being retrieved to take to a morgue. Ukrainian officials say that the camp was used as a base of the Russian army. Bucha, Kyiv area, Ukraine, 04.04.2022

Dead bodies found in the basement of a summer camp lay before being retrieved to take to a morgue. Ukrainian officials say that the camp was used as a base of the Russian army. Bucha, Kyiv area, Ukraine, 04.04.2022

One of the apartment buildings which was destroyed by russian bombing in the town of Borodyanka. During the war, 404 private houses and 55 apartment buildings were destroyed in the town. 05.04.2022, Borodyanka, Kyiv area, Ukraine

One of the apartment buildings which was destroyed by russian bombing in the town of Borodyanka. During the war, 404 private houses and 55 apartment buildings were destroyed in the town. 05.04.2022, Borodyanka, Kyiv area, Ukraine

People are crossing the Siverskyi Donets river by boat. The bridge over the river was destroyed during the war, so locals organized boat crossing. 12.10.2022, Stary Saltiv, Kharkiv area, Ukraine

People are crossing the Siverskyi Donets river by boat. The bridge over the river was destroyed during the war, so locals organized boat crossing. 12.10.2022, Stary Saltiv, Kharkiv area, Ukraine

Empty graves after exhumation of bodies in the mass grave created during the Russian's occupation in Izyum. Several mass graves, including one site containing at least 440 bodies, were found in woods near the Ukrainian city of Izium after it was reca

Empty graves after exhumation of bodies in the mass grave created during the Russian's occupation in Izyum. Several mass graves, including one site containing at least 440 bodies, were found in woods near the Ukrainian city of Izium after it was recaptured by Ukrainian forces. 15.10.2022, Izyum, Kharkiv area, Ukraine

Dead pigeon killed by shelling on a street in the town of Bakhmut. 17.10.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Dead pigeon killed by shelling on a street in the town of Bakhmut. 17.10.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Destroyed bridge over Siverskyi Donets river near the village of Zalyman. Locals repaired the bridge on their own as soon as the area was liberated. 20.10.2022, Zalyman, Kharkiv area, Ukraine

Destroyed bridge over Siverskyi Donets river near the village of Zalyman. Locals repaired the bridge on their own as soon as the area was liberated. 20.10.2022, Zalyman, Kharkiv area, Ukraine

Ukrainian servicemen are loading ammunition into the APC. 11.11.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen are loading ammunition into the APC. 11.11.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen are loading ammunition into the APC. 11.11.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine.

Ukrainian servicemen are loading ammunition into the APC. 11.11.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine.

Serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is driving to his unit’s positions in the fields near the town of Bakhmut. 15.11.2022, near Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is driving to his unit’s positions in the fields near the town of Bakhmut. 15.11.2022, near Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Paramedics provide medical aid to a wounded soldier in the Bakhmut hospital. The hospital's main function is to stabilize the injured so that they can be transported farther from the frontline. 17.11.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Paramedics provide medical aid to a wounded soldier in the Bakhmut hospital. The hospital's main function is to stabilize the injured so that they can be transported farther from the frontline. 17.11.2022, Bakhmut, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Residents of the city of Siversk in a canteen run by Protestant Christians. Every day, people can get a free hot meal here. Most of them live in the basements of their shell-damaged homes. 04.10.2023, Siversk, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Residents of the city of Siversk in a canteen run by Protestant Christians. Every day, people can get a free hot meal here. Most of them live in the basements of their shell-damaged homes. 04.10.2023, Siversk, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Vladimir, 64 years old, restores a fallen cross on his neighbor's grave. He was killed by russian shelling and as it was too risky to take the body to the graveyard, they buried their friend near the apartment building where he lived. 05.10.2022, Siv

Vladimir, 64 years old, restores a fallen cross on his neighbor's grave. He was killed by russian shelling and as it was too risky to take the body to the graveyard, they buried their friend near the apartment building where he lived. 05.10.2022, Siversk, Donetsk area, Ukraine

Alexander Vasukovich

Alexander Vasiukovich is an independent photographer based in Warsaw, Poland. Born in Minsk in 1985, Alexander has dedicated his work primarily to human rights and social injustice.

He covered the 2020 protests against Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko, an experience that led to his arrest and a three-year sentence. This forced him to flee his hometown and seek asylum in Poland.

Alexander has been documenting events in Ukraine since the Euromaidan protests in 2013 and the war’s onset in 2014, and he continues to cover the full-scale invasion.