The photojournalists Ingmar Björn Nolting and Fabian Ritter report from Lviv, in western Ukraine. The city remained mostly unscathed at the beginning of the Russian invasion, and has since become a crucible of preparations for war and refugee movement. Tens of thousands of refugees are crowding into the city; civilians are arming themselves, fallen soldiers are being buried, and aid supplies are being sent to the frontlines
Andrii wanted to quit smoking. That was before 24 February, the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since then, cigarette butts have started to collect again in the ashtray on his balcony. With the beginning of the war, Olya, a friend, moved in with him. “In these times, you have to stand together,” Andrii says. Within a day, their daily lives, routines and priorities changed. The initial shock of the invasion turned into a new reality. An ever-worsening war is a condition you can’t get used to.
Andrii and Olya live in Lviv, 290 miles (470km) from Kyiv, in western Ukraine. Their home town, known for its Old Town, a Unesco world heritage site, has become an antechamber of war in recent weeks. As Russian attacks continue to grow even more brutal farther east and more civilian infrastructure is attacked, hundreds of thousands of refugees are crowding into the city. At the same time, resistance to the Russian invasion is forming in Lviv. Civilians arm themselves, the city takes protective measures, and aid is sent to the frontlines. Lviv has become a melting pot of war preparations and solidarity.
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