Running commentaries from front line// Atrocities of war in Ukraine caught by photographer Evgeniy Maloletka, told in Chisinau

Chisinau, 15 December /MOLDPRES/ - Pictures made directly from the frontline in Ukraine by Ukrainian journalist, laureate of the Oscar Award Evgeniy Maloletka have been presented in Chisinau at a meeting with the author held at Artcor. Being witness of the atrocities committed by the Russian army in Ukraine, Evgeniy Maloletka told about the suffering of people in Mariupol, Izyum and Bucha. The journalist said that his wish for the entire world to learn about the war in Ukraine had fueled his courage and motivated him in the profession exercised on the frontline, risking his life.        

The visit by the Ukrainian journalist took place at a public presentation titled, Frontline Narrative, organized by NGO, The Civic Arena, and financially backed by the Embassy of the United States in Chisinau. ‘’This is a personality of international stature. I am not afraid of saying this, as Evgeniy Maloletka, photographer, war correspondent, is holder of over 20 international prestigious prizes, including the Oscar Award, got in his capacity of co-author of the documentary, 20 Days in Mariupol.  This is first Oscar got by Ukraine and probably he is the first laureate of the Oscar Award whom we welcome here in Moldova,’’ said the president of the Civic Arena Association, Ludmila Barba.   

„It is an honour for me to welcome Evgeniy Maloletka in Chisinau. We were witnesses of a tough and bloody confrontation on behalf of Russia, when many heroes appeared in Ukraine and among them, there are bold, courageous journalists, who risk their lives, in order to bring a correct coverage of the war to the world. In the age when the misinformation spreads with the speed of the lightning on social networks, the discovery and the knowledge of the truth have never been so important. Ukrainian journalists play an important role, given that Russia tries to subordinate Ukraine and throw down the democratic government. They prove that the spirit of Ukraine stays unconquered, even if before quite big difficulties,’’ a charge d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Moldova, Kevin Covert, said.     

Evgeniy Maloletka: „On 24 February 2022, at 3 am, we arrived in Mariupol, without thinking that it would be war’’

War photographer Evgeniy Maloletka was born in the Berdyansk city, nearby Mariupol, where he lived for many years. He was coming to Mariupol very often. He returned in 2014, when Russia tried to occupy this city of strategic importance on its way to Crimea. The city resisted and its residents never believed that they would ever face the Russian aggression.   

„Using all resources, Mariupol was surrounded, bombarded by Russians each 20 minutes’’  

Evgeniy Maloletka made pictures of thousands of tragic scenes – wounded children, women, parents crying over the fact that their children could not be saved, physicians who were working days and night to save human lives, desperate people, bombarded hospitals. These photographs were spread all over the world. The mankind learned the truth about the war in Ukraine, the atrocities of the Russian army, the author said.  

Meeting in Chisinau: ‘’It is important that the people learn the truth about this war from the first source’’

Journalists, profession colleagues, opinion makers, civil servants from Moldova, diplomats accredited in Chisinau, who appreciated the courage of the photo reporter and expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people, came to the meeting with Evgeniy Maloletka.  

Daniel Voda, spokesman for the prime minister of Moldova: ‘’It is important that the people from Chisinau, Balti, Cahul learn from this war from the first sources. After a long-lasting aggression of Russia in Ukraine, we notice that the people are already tired of these stories about the war. You are a journalist who saw on the front the reality of this military aggression. What can you answer the people who say that, besides the war, there also other problems? How would you answer to skeptical people, who do not believe that schools, the energy infrastructure are bombarded in the neighbour country, who simply do not see this problem or endeavor not to see it? How would you answer these people, after you saw the death on the frontline?’’      

Evgeniy Maloletka: „I don’t know… They should come to Ukraine and see, ask people, go to Bucha or they will be afraid to do this. Maybe the Foreign Affairs Ministry will organize a delegation for those who do not believe in the war in Ukraine.’’

Andrei Mardari, MOLDPRES photo reporter: „Have you ever faced a situation to choose between taking a good picture or saving the life of a man? There is a limit in our profession, i.e. first I make this picture, subsequently I will think at what I will do with this man? ‘’

Evgeniy Maloletka: „It is important where you are. Quite often, where we take pictures, there are already people who work. If there is nobody nearby, the first thing you do is to provide assistance and not take pictures. The man can have serious wounds and his life is measured in seconds or milliseconds. It is quite important to help him and not think about the photographing. The photographing does not save the life. For me, the life of a man is more important than the photograph.’’       

The project, Running commentaries from the frontline, was launched in last November. The first guest invited was a correspondent of the Free Europe Radio in Ukraine, Roman Pakhulych – the first war journalist who told about the release of the Snake Island, occupied by the Russian forces, as well as after Ukraine’s incursion in the Russian region of Kursk.