Ukrainian photographer Olha Kovaliova injured in Donetsk Region

While documenting the russian-Ukrainian war, two Kharkiv photographers — Olha Kovaliova, the project manager of the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, and Vladyslav Krasnoshchok — came under enemy artillery fire on July 19, 2024, near the front line in the area of ​​the Toretsk Axis in the Donetsk Region.

This was reported by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers.

The photographers worked with artillerymen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. That day, the military fired several shots at the enemy and hid in the dugout together with the journalists.

According to photographer Vladyslav Krasnoshchok, while they were in the dugout together with the military, the enemy started firing back. He adds that 12 shots hit the field not far from the position. The 13^th went straight into the dugout.

The photographer received a shrapnel wound in the armpit, supraclavicular, supra thoracic area, and arm and a chest fracture. She was hospitalized. Krasnoshchok and the military received contusions.

“I have three shrapnel wounds. Two shrapnel were recovered from the body. All of them were near large vessels. However, the medics are currently not taking the risk of removing one fragment so as not to damage something. At the moment, my right hand does not work at all,” says Olha.

The military provided first aid to the documentarian; then, she was evacuated to the hospital.

Olha Kovaliova said that a military medevac took her to the nearest field hospital, from there to a military hospital in Pokrovsk, and then to a civilian hospital, where two of her three fragments were removed. Now, she is in a hospital in Kharkiv. Currently, her condition is stable.

“All the others who were in the dugout are fortunately unharmed. I was injured because I was sitting in the corner near the pipe – an improvised cooker hood, from which the fragments fell. A bulletproof vest and a helmet saved me. The shrapnel got to a place where there was no protection,” explains Olha. “It’s a pity that it happened on the first day of my working trip.”

We wish Olha Kovaliova a speedy recovery!