The jury of the international World Press Photo competition recognized the best photo of a 6-year-old Ukrainian girl Angelina, taken by German photographer Florian Bachmeier, and a wounded Russian occupier. It was taken by German photographer Nanna Heitmann, who works for The New York Times and lives in Moscow.
In this regard, the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP) issued a statement condemning the jury's approach.
" By rewarding Russian photographers who serve as spokespeople for the Russian state ideology, the competition makes the aggressor's position visible, and thus contributes to a change in concepts: instead of condemning the aggressor, it emphasizes sympathy for him ," the statement says.
UAPP emphasized that such an award does not correspond to the stated goal of the competition - to unite the world with important stories, especially in the context of the war of aggression that Russia has been waging against Ukraine for 11 years.
" Given the importance of such competitions for the Ukrainian and international photographic community, we emphasize the importance of adhering to high standards of ethics, impartiality, and transparency. Only under such conditions is it possible to fairly evaluate works that document reality, reflect the truth, and give voice to those who are often tried to be silenced. This is also a way to counter any forms of propaganda or disinformation in the international information space ," the association said.
Ukrainian photojournalist Serhiy Korovainy also commented on the jury's decision.
" To be honest, I look at the results of this year's World Press Photo with sadness and disappointment. I join the UAPP statement. These two photos have been determined as the best on the European continent for 2024. In the first - Angelina, she is 6 years old and she is an IDP from Kupyansk. The girl is traumatized by the war and suffers from panic attacks. The author is Florian Bachmeier (thanks for your work). In the second - a wounded Russian occupier in a stable in occupied Bakhmut. The cause of Angelina's suffering. The cause of deaths and destruction, grief and tears of thousands of Ukrainians. It was taken by a Russian by origin, Nanna Heitmann ," the photographer wrote.
He noted that the chairman of the jury, experienced military correspondent Finbar O'Reilly, who himself has filmed the suffering of Ukrainians many times, decided to combine these two photos.
" Put them together. Create a TANDEM. Because they are so similar visually, right? And the meaning is the same, right? Russian boys are suffering too. From the jury's point of view, this is "a combination that allows for a deeper, more nuanced consideration of a conflict with far-reaching global consequences." From my point of view, this is an unempathetic, superficial, stretched manipulation due to visual similarity that removes responsibility for the aggressive Russian war in Ukraine from "ordinary Russians" - military and civilian. Which encourages washing away guilt from Russians. Which is extremely inappropriate during the war of choice that the Russian Federation is waging ," Korovainy wrote.
He also said that one of the winning stories - from Russian Alena Kardash - is about Russian society during the war, its challenges and suffering. It is called It Smells of Smoke at Home.
" The Ukrainian cities also smell of smoke. It is Russian missiles and drones that kill our civilians and military, yesterday's civilians. Every day. The smells of smoke will stop in Russian cities when the Russian army leaves Ukraine. At that very moment, Russian boys will stop dying in the basements of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, and Angelina will return to her home in Kupyansk ," Korovainy noted.