Blinded by War: documenting the aftermath of injury in Ukraine – photo essay
Documenting the Invisible Wounds: Ukrainian Veterans Rebuilding Life After War
Wanderstayfinder.com – For over forty years, American photojournalist Paula Bronstein has journeyed to regions often overlooked by global attention, capturing the human stories within conflict zones from Afghanistan to Ukraine. Her photographic work serves as both historical record and emotional bridge, bearing witness to pivotal moments while creating images that stir genuine empathy in viewers. Her award-winning portfolio spans political upheaval, humanitarian emergencies, and social inequity, yet she finds equal fascination in the quiet rhythms of ordinary existence—the joy, sorrow, and complete range of human experience. Bronstein credits her enduring career to an unquenchable curiosity and a commitment to recording the persistent humanity that emerges even amid devastation. Since 2025, she has been documenting Ukrainian servicemen through her project "Blinded by War," focusing on a generation of young men whose lives were irrevocably altered by Vladimir Putin's 2022 invasion.
A Generation Transformed
The conflict has produced an unprecedented number of Ukrainian soldiers with severe injuries, many of whom have lost their sight. Kamikaze drones, deployed extensively by both sides across the vast battlefield, have become a leading cause of these life-changing wounds. The Ukrainian healthcare system now faces the monumental task of providing comprehensive medical care, rehabilitation, and psychological support to an ever-growing population of wounded veterans.
Voices from the Frontlines
At a workshop in Lviv, Ivan Rozuman receives guidance from a mobility trainer as he navigates unfamiliar streets. A veteran of the 25th Brigade, Rozuman joined military service before the full-scale invasion began in 2022. He has sustained injuries twice and undergone more than fifty surgical procedures. Shrapnel fragments remain embedded throughout his body, so numerous that he has lost track of the exact count. Rozuman first suffered injuries during a Kharkiv offensive in 2022. The conflict has left him both blind and with significant hearing loss. After completing his military service, he survived a near-fatal explosion near his Zaporizhzhia home. Vitaliy Veres's story began on February 14, 2023, when he was wounded in Bakhmut. The attack damaged his eyes, tore open his chin, and destroyed both tympanic cavities in his middle ears. Following more than thirty surgeries, Veres experienced disillusionment with military-funded medical care but has since channeled his energy into adaptive sports and motivational speaking.
Abroad, I'm a hero. At home, people look at me like I'm scary.
Now a dedicated bodybuilder who trains daily, Veres credits his partner Victoria Lysachenko—whom he met in their hometown in 2012—as a cornerstone of his recovery. The couple shares a daughter. Artur Martosich, a competitive weightlifter who runs with a guide, was shot in the head from just three meters away during a combat mission. He now embraces endurance sports, combining strength training with running and other athletic disciplines, earning victories in numerous veteran sporting competitions.
I learn something from each new story I do. The people in Ukraine are incredible. What fascinates me is their resilience.
Martosich lives with his father and describes sport as comprehensive rehabilitation—physical, spiritual, and mental. Before the war, he wrestled; his current ambition is joining the Ukrainian national strongman team. Serhii Chabanov, a father of three, was blinded and lost an arm in a drone attack near Bakhmut. Meanwhile, Andriy Onopriienko, age thirty-two, was struck by tank fire two years ago, resulting in blindness, facial burns, and hearing loss in one ear.
I was in so much pain I begged another comrade to kill me. Now I want to live my life to the fullest, one step at a time and to achieve small things every day.
Onopriienko resides in the Kyiv family apartment where he grew up. Recalling his injury's aftermath, he remembers being unable to see, worrying about his family, and experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Rebuilding Through Innovation
Ukraine's medical facilities are adapting to meet veterans' needs. At the Imatech medical eye clinic in Kyiv, artists utilize 3D printers to craft realistic prosthetic eyes for those who have lost theirs. In July, Bronstein visited the Ukrainian capital's regional hospital, photographing patients undergoing eye surgery procedures. The ongoing challenge extends beyond physical rehabilitation. Psychological support remains critical for veterans processing trauma while reintegrating into civilian life. Bronstein's photographs capture not only the physical scars but also the determination of men learning to navigate a world that has fundamentally changed. Through her lens, Bronstein reveals stories of resilience that transcend individual experience, offering readers a window into the Ukrainian struggle and the enduring spirit of those who have sacrificed so much.
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