This series documents the struggle for survival in eastern Ukraine, where war with Russia has raged since 2014.

Life is dominated by the front — a death zone stretching up to 30 kilometers inland. Artillery fires relentlessly; tanks and military vehicles thunder through the night. Those who could, fled. The elderly stayed behind.

Even near the front, an estimated ten percent of residents remained. Many paid with their lives — like the school supply store owner, whose charred books now lie in ruins. Others, like Evgeniy, Victor, and Nicolai, barely survived the strikes that destroyed or damaged their homes. Physically unhurt but visibly traumatized, their hollow stares tell of deep psychological wounds.

In Orikhiv, near Zaporizhia, Evgeniy lives in the ruins of his home — a single, patched-up room with no running water, frequent power cuts, and poor mobile reception. Life Under Shelling consciously avoids the graphic imagery that dominates headlines and social media, opting instead for focused, aesthetic storytelling.

About Patrick Enssle

Patrick Enssle, born in 1984 in Biberach an der Riß (South Germany), began his career in 2003 as a radio reporter and was soon reporting from Sarajevo with the Bundeswehr. Deeply influenced by Larry Burrows’ story “One Ride With Yankee Papa 13 (LI1965)”, Patrick developed a lasting belief in photography’s power to document war and move hearts.

After working as an editor and photographer for the German armed forces, he became a freelance journalist. His focus today is the war in Ukraine, which he has covered repeatedly since 2022. Patrick’s work seeks to raise awareness of war crimes and human suffering that often escape public attention.

Inspired by Burrows’ conviction that photography can overcome apathy, he emphasizes empathy and dignity over sensationalism, using clear visual narratives and aesthetic restraint to tell the stories of those affected by war. [Officil Website]