Federico Quintana

11/11/2024

Donetsk Oblast, October 2024 - The volunteer search group “Platsdarm” was founded in 2012. Its original mission was to identify unburied remains of soldiers from the First and Second World Wars.

Since 2014, they have been in search of the remains of victims from the current war. It’s a highly dangerous job.

The search takes place in the grey zone, close the line of fire and it is contaminated with mines, explosives and traps. It is not rare that they receive enemy fire while in the field.

Since 2018, the team has lost six of its members, KIA while carrying out their work.

The remains found are carefully described and photographed. They are then placed in special bags and taken to the morgue. The Russian bodies are later exchanged by the Ukraine Armed Forces for fallen Ukrainian soldiers in Russian hands.

This report was done in collaboration with my colleague journalist Lesya Kharchenko. It is part of a full story about the work and lives of this incredible team and their profound belief in the importance of respecting life and death in the war zone at the high risk of their own lives.

It is still work in progress as this story unravels in deeper aspects of human value.

WARNING: Sensitive and graphic content.

The full reportage is available upon request.

12/10/2024

Pokrovsk oblast, September 2024 - Rest in peace, Tigran (.r.o.video).

At dawn, before sunrise, volunteers from the NGO “Rose on the Hand” (.na.ruke) gather to begin the dangerous task of evacuating civilians from villages near Pokrovsk.

For the past month, this city has been under relentless attack from Russian forces, forcing thousands of civilians to abandon their homes. Nearby towns like Kurakhove and Selydove have become almost unreachable due to fierce fighting in the area.

Despite the dangers, these fearless volunteers continue their deep incursions into conflict zones, answering calls for help from civilians—and even animals—trapped in the chaos.

Every mission these volunteers undertake puts their lives at serious risk, as they face constant threats from ongoing attacks and unpredictable dangers in war zones.press

05/10/2024

Kramatorsk oblast, October 2024 - This series is from my last day in this area after a long week working on two stories related to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
These images were taken between Kramatorsk and Konstyantynivka
and clearly reminded me that the war is everywhere in this region and not only on the nearby frontlines from where I had just returned.
In my last morning, I went to visit the destroyed hotel Saffir, where I had so often stayed prior to the targeted Russian attack that killed Reuters security agent Ryan Evans and seriously injured two journalist colleagues two months ago, leaving me sad and speechless.
Shortly after, several explosions were heard and a major impact from an aerial gliding bomb struck a barn near the city center, shacking the windows of my favorite coffee shop.
An hour later I met radical soldiers on custom bikes ready to make incursions in the city of Torets’k, where the enemy drones and intense fighting create difficulties for military vehicles to reach their defensive positions.
The Ukrainian custom built bikes are small and fast enough to evade the FPV drone attacks and are yet another example of bravery and ingenious ways to resist the relentless Russian offensive in every possible way.press

25/06/2024

Kyiv oblast, June 25 2023 - Dnipro river north western banks. On this day last year in the outskirts of the capital. Not only war in Ukraine. .press - -

05/04/2024

Chernihiv April 5, 2022

Two years ago after over forty days of siege and relentless shelling with every possible explosives including several forbidden and considered criminal weaponry against all civilian structures, Chernihiv was liberated from the Russian assault.

Citizens that remained had lived in basements without electricity or supplies surviving only with the help of humanitarian aids from independent and international contributors mainly being delivered by the Ukrainian Red Cross.

This was one of the worst attacks during the failed attempt of the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia taking a tremendous toll on civilians and a countless loss of innocent lives.
-press

02/04/2024

Bucha, 02 March, 2022 - On these days remembering the liberation and initial dramatic and successful fight from Ukrainian Armed Forces to stop the Russian full scale invasion and attempt to siege the capital.
Russian forces were successfully forced to a full retreat after their complete failure in Bucha, Irpin, Borodyanka and Chernihiv.press

29/02/2024

Donetsk oblast, 02 February 2024 - Back in Donbas for a third time around since the start of the failed full scale invasion of Ukraine from Russia, in 2022.

A first day of reconnaissance along the frontlines.

Intensive fighting as ever in many areas of the hot spots as we witnessed while approaching the frontlines very closely on a few occasions during the evening hours.

Proud and fortunate to join forces with the best Latin American photojournalists I have known. - .press

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25/02/2024

As Ukraine enters the third year of this phase of the war and invasion launched by Russia on 24 February 2022. A short set of images of some of the work carried out during these last two years that come to mind and have marked moments difficut to forget.

Unfortunately series like these are endless in my archive.
I am speechles these days as I am once more visiting Ukraine and witnessing this moment of great difficulty, loss and tragedy that is taking such a heavy toll on Ukrainian lives.

It is sad that the western world appears incapable to help as required, to put a definite end to this absurd attack on humanity.

In an effort to document this fundamental moment in history I have learned a lot about human tragedy and evil but also about kindness, solidarity, sacrifice and valor. Most importantly the uncopromising value and price of freedom. - .press

05/01/2024

Very grateful to Republik, in Switzerland, for publishing this extensive reportage. This work was done in collaboration with my brilliant colleague and amazing journalist, writer and film producer, Lesya Kharchenko.
The documentary work explores the consequences of a destroyed village, «Velyka Komyshuvakha » in the Izium region of eastern Ukraine towards the end of 2023.
The direct result of the war’s nearby frontline and Russian occupation, as life slowly returns to this devasted and uncertain area.

Link in bio to full article in Republik Magazine

04/01/2024

Our article with Lesya Kharchenko in the Swiss edition of Republik (German). She is about the village of Velika Komishuvaaha near Izumu, through which in 2022 passed the front line. About how in a completely broken village little by little life returns.

Eine Reportage aus dem Dorf Velyka Komyshuvakha im Osten der Ukraine.