UKRAINE: TWO YEARS OF WAR

Photos and text by Mstyslav Chernov

Civilians escape through the railroad bridge blown up by Donetsk People Republic partisans.

In the aftermath of the Euromaidan movement and the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, pro-Russian and anti-government protest spread across the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine.
Violence in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts escalated into an armed separatist insurgency. The Ukrainian government reacted launching a military counter-offensive, which resulted in the War in Donbass.

Mstyslav Chernov reported for two years -and counting- all the phases of the conflict directly from inside it.

: After 2 hours since the signing of the Russian-Crimean treaty the letters on the entrance of the Crimean parliament “Parliament of autonomous republic of Crimea” are being removed and coat-of-arms is being replaced. Simferopol, Crimea. March 19, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: A jet fighter Mig 24 performs a fly-by as Ukrainian forces are being blocked by local citizens near Kramatorsk city during the anti-terrorist operation. Kramatorsk, Ukraine. April 8, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Ukrainian forces are being blocked by local citizens near Kramatorsk city during the anti-terrorist operation. Kramatorsk, Ukraine. April 8, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Ukrainian forces are being blocked by local citizens near Kramatorsk city during the anti-terrorist operation. Soldiers demonstrate peaceful intentions towards civilians showing unloaded ammunitions magazines. Kramatorsk, Ukraine. April 8, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Ukrainian forces are being blocked by local citizens near Kramatorsk city during the anti-terrorist operation. Kramatorsk, Ukraine. April 8, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Reporter and Pro-Maidan Irma Krat is taken as hostage by pro-russian activists in Slavyansk city. Slavyansk, Ukraine. April 21, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Children play war games mimicking the outfit and the equipment (toy guns) of the Pro-Russian forces nearby one of their outpost. Near Slavyansk, Ukraine. May 6, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Members of special pro-Russian battalion “Vostok” seen during the military coup in DNR (Donetsk Peoples Republic), taking over town hall, held by another group of pro-russian activists. Mariupol, Ukraine. May 29, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Relatives mourn Pro-Russian activist Alexander Lubenets exposed in his coffin. The activist has been killed during the anti-terror operation in Slavyansk, Ukraine. April 26, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: The corpse of a civilian shot dead lies in the street nearby the Mariupol police headquarters. Plates of defeated vehicles are placed on the side the victims of the battle. Ukraine’s security forces claimed to have killed 21 pro-Russian separatists in Mariupol on one of the bloodiest military repression since the so called anti-terror operation’s inception. Mariupol, Ukraine. May 09, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: A Donetsk’s citizen votes in a school used as a polling station. Donetsk region and Lugansk vote for separation of the Eastern Ukraine. Donetsk, Ukraine. May 11, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: A Donetsk’s citizen votes in a school used as a polling station. Donetsk region and Lugansk vote for separation of the Eastern Ukraine. Donetsk, Ukraine. May 11, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Relatives, friends and soldiers mourn Pro-Russian activist Alexander Gizay at funerals of eight murdered by Ukraine army airstrike on Lugansk. June 06, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Pro-Russian militia secure the impact area of downed Ukrainian military transport plane (IL-76). Novogannivka, ( Lugansk ), Ukraine. The night before plane was shot down by anti-aircraft guns and missiles of the militia of Lugansk peoples republic causing 49 casualties between Ukriane soldiers. June 14, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Civilians escape through the railroad bridge blown up by Donetsk People Republic partisans. Novobahmutivka. 20 km on the road from Donetsk to Slovyansk. July 07, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: A child behind the gate of the border between Ukraine and Russia at Izvarine check point – one of border crossings controlled by Luhansk Peoples Republic. According to rebels around 5 thousand people leave Ukraine every day through Izvarine border crossing. June 26, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: A family in their car filling expatriation documents waiting inline at the border between Ukraine and Russia at Izvarine check point – one of border crossings controlled by Luhansk Peoples Republic. According to rebels around 5 thousand people leave Ukraine every day through Izvarine border crossing. June 27, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Pro-Russian rebels hide from enemy bullets holding their positions at the Airport of Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine. October 14, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Man injured during airstrike in Snizhne. July 15, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Prisoner held by Pro-Russian rebels in Novokaterinovka village, Eastern Ukraine. September 02, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Mother and her child hiding in an old Soviet Union bomb shelter during shelling. Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine. October 14, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Bus carrying refugees out of Donetsk to Russian federation. September 29, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Pro-Russian rebels chat, while guarding their positions near Luhansk, Eastern Ukraine. August 15, 2014. © Mstyslav Chernov

: Body of one of the passengers found in a field of sunflowers on the crash site of flight MH17 Malaysian Airways Boeing 777, Hrabove, Eastern Ukraine. © Mstyslav Chernov