Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine begins on 24 February 2022. Johanna-Maria Fritz immediately sets out to document the war of aggression. The Russian army quickly advanced towards the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv before having to withdraw again in March 2022. Fritz was one of the first photojournalists to work in the recaptured territories. She photographed the execution of Ukrainian civilians in Bucha, which became a symbol of war crimes committed by Russian soldiers. Fritz later travelled to the front line in eastern Ukraine's Donbass, covering the battle for the town of Bachmut from autumn 2022 to spring 2023. Shortly afterwards, when the Kakhovka dam in south-eastern Ukraine was destroyed, the photographer documented the hardship caused by the masses of water. She won the Sternpreis 2024 and a World Press Photo Award 2024. Her images from Ukraine have been published in various media, including Der Spiegel, Die Zeit and Neue Zürcher Zeitung.