The story behind the photo: April 9, 2022 - Kharkiv, Ukraine

Every day, Trans at the Front will be publishing a photo, and the story behind it, taken by Sarah Ashton-Cirillo during the ongong war of Russian terrorism against Ukraine.

This photo was sponsored by Lori Hamilton (follow her on Twitter here).

Slava Ukraini, Lori!

Day after day the intensity of the Russian terrorism against Kharkiv increased. Spring, and all its promises, seemed beyond reach as the city’s populous faced the reality of death daily.

The still snowy days hadn’t helped, and as March turned to April, and rumors of Putin’s so-called second phase percolated, I’d been faced with my first real choice since arriving in Ukraine’s second city; stay or go.

Having been in the country for over a month, exposed to destruction, and impending deprivation, I teetered on leaving.

Then on April 9, 2022 the skies turned blue, and in spite of the continuing explosions which reigned across Kharkiv’s neighborhoods, I went for a long walk alone.

Covering almost 10 kilometers in total, exploring empty alleys of a barren downtown, and wreckage strewn across roadways, my decision was made.

Then it wasn’t.

Sitting canal side as he walked past, all fear dissipated, the idea of Slava Ukraini became real, and my decision was truly made.