It is the first day as a part-time soldier in the Ukrainian unit “The Witches of Bucha” for 35-year-old Aliona, who normally runs a spa salon in Kyiv. When she told her husband that she wanted to join the military, he was against it, arguing that it would take too much time away from their two children. After a brief consideration, she decided to go to the recruitment office anyway – the children were old enough, and her husband could help out a bit, she reasoned. As recruiting men has become increasingly difficult, more women have been allowed to take on combat roles. Six years ago, just over half the population believed that men and women should have equal opportunities in the military. Today, that figure has risen to 80 per cent. The women serving are not only fighting against the Russian invasion but also against the patriarchal structures of Ukrainian society. / Svenska Dagbladet
Smoke rises on the horizon south of the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. The city, could be the next major urban area to fall under Russian control, with its roads and railway lines it’s an important city for supplying Ukrainian troops along the front. / Svenska Dagbladet
A shockwave ripples through the air as a Ukrainian artillery unit on the outskirts of Kurakhove fires their US-made, Italian-donated Paladin M109 howitzer. They have just relocated to a new position after a Russian Lancet drone struck their howitzer. The damage was minor and quickly repaired, but a hole is still visible in the gun turret. / Svenska Dagbladet
A few months after Russia’s full-scale invasion, Vasyl enlisted. Previously, he was a frontline soldier attacking Russian positions. At first, he was terrified of the explosions, but over time, got used to them. After requesting a transfer, he is now part of an artillery unit. Much of his time is spent waiting in the bunker, a wait that is quickly interrupted when the radio crackles with new coordinates for their next target. / Svenska Dagbladet
“Harmata” is called out, and shortly afterwards, they fire at the coordinates relayed to them via radio, which also informs them whether the target was hit or not. They have stopped care about what they hit – as long as they hit. / Svenska Dagbladet
The remnants of a Russian Grad rocket are embedded in the ground on a street in Dachne. The BM-21 Grad artillery system, with its 40 rockets, can cover an area the size of ten football pitches. / Svenska Dagbladet
Stabilisation points are often the first stop for the wounded and are primarily tasked with stabilising patients for transport or treating minor injuries that do not require extended or advanced care. / Svenska Dagbladet
A severely wounded soldier with shrapnel injuries has just arrived at a secret stabilisation point near the frontline of Chasiv Yar. It is quickly determined that he requires more specialised care, and the medics begin preparing him for transfer. At the same time, an ambulance is made ready. Thanks to prompt and accurate care before he arrived at the stabilisation point, he will likely not loose his leg. / Svenska Dagbladet
The ambulance is lit only by a faint red light and a few monitors as it speeds towards the hospital. An older paramedic keeps a constant watch on the shrapnel-injured soldier, who is wrapped in insulating thermal blankets. Keeping the patient warm is critical – if body temperature drops, blood struggles to clot, making critical bleeding harder to control. / Svenska Dagbladet
Hospital staff meet the ambulance upon its arrival. The injured soldier is wheeled away on a stretcher and disappears into the building. Shortly after, the ambulance departs.
Troop movements are mostly made during the dark hours of the day to avoid being seen. / Svenska Dagbladet
Ronin is a platoon leader in the Ukrainian army – but only over one soldier. His battalion, which once had 300 fighters, has lost almost all of its strength. The shortage of troops on the Ukrainian side has led to small groups of soldiers sometimes being tasked with defending kilometer-long frontlines. Recently, Ronin spent ten consecutive days in his trench because the relieving unit lacked an officer to replace him. After being called up, he was placed in the Territorial Defence Forces, which are primarily meant to defend local areas and support regular forces. Despite this, he was quickly sent to some of the war’s most intense frontlines. After being injured in a drone attack, he is now receiving care at a military hospital in Kharkiv. / Svenska Dagbladet
Troop movements are mostly made during the dark hours of the day to avoid being seen. / Svenska Dagbladet
