A Ukrainian ammunition depot hidden in a small garage was hit by Russian shelling in Soledar, Donetsk region. Villages close to the contact lines inevitably became ground for active fighting, as the frontline slowly but steadily moved forward. The burned-out car in front of the garage was the last car the Ukrainian fighters in Soledar had. “We came with five, now we have nothing. Guess we’re not going anywhere,” a member of the Territorial Defence Force grins.
Daphne Wesdorp is a Dutch photographer, videographer and writer focused on global crises and underreported conflict. She has been working all over Ukraine since the very beginning of the war, mainly documenting the civilian impact, broader Ukrainian resistance, and the variety of military units fighting against Russia. She spends most of her days in the East, working in Kharkiv and the Donbas.
Before working in Ukraine, Wesdorp was reporting from Iraq, Kurdistan, Greece, Palestine, and Kosovo. Her main fascination lies in global grassroots resistance and popular mobilisation.
Before pursuing her career in journalism, she briefly studied Fine Arts at Minerva Academy in Groningen. After this, she finished her bachelor of Cultural Anthropology in Utrecht. During her study, she specialised in Middle Eastern Studies and Conflict Studies.