As news of the invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces develops, we asked ourselves what Wonderful Machine could do to help the people of Ukraine and our photography community at this difficult time. While we strive to remain impartial to any matter involving politics, the Russia-Ukrainian war is a human rights crisis that is affecting the lives of so many in our global community. From hiring local photojournalists to print sales and fundraisers, we would like to share some helpful resources and ways you can support the people of Ukraine.
Our team at Wonderful Machine has reached out to photographers in Ukraine and surrounding countries (Poland, Romania, and Moldova) to ask how we can help and have offered them free public listings to promote their work. A few photographers have responded and have permitted us to share their thoughts.
One of these photographers was Sergiy Kadulin, a Kyiv, Ukraine-based architecture and interior photographer. Despite having to leave his home and his photo gear behind, Sergiy remains hopeful of the Ukrainian army’s victory.
We are fighting here to win.
As visual storytellers, we understand the importance of documenting the reality of a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude and the need to help curb misinformation. If you are a writer reporting on the war or a producer who works for a news outlet covering the war, we have put together a shortlist of photojournalists in and around Ukraine you can use as a resource.
When you hire a photojournalist in Ukraine, not only are they already on location but you’re also supporting their families, their friends, and their livelihoods. In an Instagram post, Kyiv-based photojournalist Mark Neville urges the media to prioritize hiring Ukrainian photographers instead of flying additional crews into the country and putting more lives at risk.
Documenting the truth about what is really happening on the ground is crucial. Especially amid the news that Russia has approved legislation that threatens to imprison journalists for up to 15 years if they publish what the country deems “false information,” or information that contradicts their official reports. This week, a ban on Instagram was announced, following previous bans on Facebook, and Twitter that serve to further prevent the spread of information.
I think the biggest help for Ukrainian photographers would be to show the world the truth through documentary photos of the war Russia started in Ukraine.
– Sergiy Kadulin
Photojournalists and filmmakers reporting on the conflict do so at enormous risk. Just this week, three journalists were killed covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine. American journalist and filmmaker Brent Renaud, a frequent contributor to The New York Times, was shot by Russian Forces on Sunday while Ukrainian producer Oleksandra “Sasha” Kuvshynova, and Fox News cameraperson Pierre Zakrzewski, were both killed in Gorenka, outside Kyiv, on Monday.
Here are some resources you can use to learn more about the war and help support journalism:
Many photographers and artists are organizing sales and fundraisers in support of Ukraine. Here are a few ways you can support their efforts by purchasing prints and photo books:
If you’d like to donate to charity directly or if you’re a photographer who wants to organize a fundraiser Save the Children, Choose Love, and United Help Ukraine are just some of the non-profit organizations that are actively aiding humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. This is not an exhaustive list. For more resources, the British Journalism of Photography has also published an extensive list.
If you are a photographer in and around Ukraine who would like a free listing or if you have something you would like us to share, please reach out. We’d like to help in any way we can.