2023 in photos: the most powerful images from Ukraine that shook the whole world

In 2023, Ukrainians experienced many terrible events that were captured on camera. The enemy is trying to break the strong and invincible spirit of our people by all means, but they will never succeed because we are Ukrainians, descendants of brave and strong-willed Cossacks.

OBOZ.UA has collected a selection of the most powerful photos of this year. The history of terrible events has forever left imprints in the hearts of people, but it also gave motivation and incentive to fight to the end and see a glimmer of hope and faith even among the ruins and chaos.

Christmas on the front line

The Christmas holidays have already arrived in Ukraine, but the military do not have the opportunity to spend them with their families. The heroes of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss" showed heartwarming photos of how the soldiers "celebrate" Christmas at the front line.

The courage and bravery of our defenders is impressive, they sacrifice invaluable time with their families to protect people from the ruthless enemy. Please remember those who are in the fields and trenches.

December 15, 2023, Kyiv

"Heroes do not die," is a common refrain throughout Ukraine about those who died on the battlefield. This is a photo taken on December 15, 2023, during the funeral of a Revolution of Dignity veteran on Independence Square. Despite their power and strength, Ukrainian soldiers also cry. Death, tears, and suffering are the highest price for freedom and independence.

November 20, 2023, Kharkiv region

A Ukrainian soldier at a combat position in the Kharkiv region. The photo was taken on November 20, 2023. The soldier's gaze symbolizes resilience in the face of death.

Donetsk region

Conditions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Donetsk region. Through hard work and tireless efforts, the soldiers are paving the way to victory and a brighter future.

Kreminna-Svatove direction

The defender in the photo is Oleksandr Shyrshyn, a soldier of the 80th Brigade and a graduate of the Ukrainian Catholic University. This proves once again that the Ukrainian people will always find time for education and development, and that war will not interfere with learning even in such difficult conditions.

January 14, 2023, Dnipro

The woman in the photo is 23 years old. She lost her beloved in the war and a Russian missile destroyed her home. The enemy destroys our lives, but not our hope and faith in victory.

"Under the dark clouds of war"

A photo from Ukraine has won the UNICEF Photo of the Year award. It shows children from the Rivne region riding a bicycle after a massive drone attack on a nearby oil storage facility.

The contrast of the bright landscape, the "carefree" childhood and the terrible consequences of war makes us think about the most valuable thing: life.

April 26, 2023

Soldiers released from captivity enjoy an ordinary apple. On April 26, 2023, a prisoner exchange took place. We will never forgive or forget the atrocities in the torture chambers of Russia.

March 22 ,2023

Pets also suffer from enemy attacks. Ukrainians care not only for each other but also for their loyal smaller friends. The photo was taken on March 22, 2023.

April 2, 2023

Support and love will overcome the worst evil. Let's rebuild Ukraine together, and our children will grow up in a free and independent country.

Kharkiv

Funeral of a soldier killed in Bakhmut at the cemetery in Kharkiv. The price paid by soldiers for the freedom of not only Ukrainians but the whole world.

We will stand. We will rebuild

The light in these houses and the bright starry sky give us hope that one day life will return to them again. Children's voices, cheerful songs and sincere laughter will be heard. Everyone who left home will definitely return to their homeland.

Kryvyi Rih

Ukrainian realities in Kryvyi Rih. People brought toys to honor the memory of the dead children. The tragedy claimed the lives of six Ukrainians, more than 80 were injured. Russians are killing civilians.

The value of life

Two soldiers from the same position met during the evacuation, although they were sure they would not see each other again.

Invincible little Ukrainians

The photo shows little Roman, who was burned by a Russian missile and lost his mother during a routine checkup in a hospital in Vinnytsia last year. But the boy is dancing and learning again. He did not give up, just like the entire Ukrainian people.

Ukrainian prisoner

A Ukrainian prisoner in a Russian court accused of allegedly preparing a terrorist attack in occupied Melitopol. The man's terrible physical condition is another confirmation of the inhuman, cruel and unfair treatment of our defenders.

June 28, 2023, Kyiv

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi with a girl in an embroidered shirt on the Constitution Day of Ukraine. Strength, power, support and faith side by side against a ruthless enemy.

August 20, 2023, Denmark

During his working visit to Denmark, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy got acquainted with the F-16 and "tested" the fighter jet together with the Prime Minister of Denmark. The help and support of our allies is a great contribution on the way to victory.

October 5, 2023, Hroza

A Russian missile strike on the village of Hroza in the Kharkiv region killed 52 people. Many new graves appeared in the cemetery. In total, about 300 people lived in the village: every sixth person became a victim of an enemy attack.

March 26, 2023, Bakhmut

A Ukrainian soldier from the 28th Brigade is sitting a few hundred meters from the enemy trenches. His cracked and black hands are like a symbol of the Ukrainian land, which, despite its suffering, still resists the enemy.

February 26 ,2023

Ukrainian military medics provide assistance to a wounded comrade in a field hospital near Bakhmut. Great respect to the medics who save the lives of our defenders under enemy fire.

September 26, 2023

All that is left of a Russian soldier on a road in Donetsk region. The photo was taken on September 26, and the next day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the village of Staromaiorske had been recaptured as a result of the summer counteroffensive.

June 22, 2023, Bakhmut

Bakhmut can hardly be called a city where thousands of people lived until recently. It is the scene of the fiercest fighting with Russian troops in Donetsk region. An aerial view of Bakhmut on June 22.

June 1, 2023, Kyiv

It is painful to look at photos of children who have suffered from the occupiers. Young patients of the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital with painted faces gather in the hospital's shelter to once again protect themselves from enemy shelling.

September 12, 2023, Donetsk region

A wounded Ukrainian soldier on a medical stretcher smokes his last cigarette before being loaded into a mobile hospital bus by medics from the Ukrainian volunteer medical battalion Hospitallers.

July 4, 2023, Kharkiv region

A residential area in the city of Pervomaisk. A family flees from an explosion after a Russian missile attack.

January 19, 2023, Bucha

The funeral of Ukrainian soldier Oleksii Zavadskyi, who died on January 15 in Bakhmut. Unspeakable pain grips the family and hundreds of people who came to pay their last respects to the defender. Heroes will forever remain in the hearts of every Ukrainian.

April 23, 2023, Donetsk region

A wounded Ukrainian soldier lies in a frontline medical stabilization center.

September 16, 2023, Uman

September 16, the picturesque city of Uman in the Cherkasy region. A Hasidic pilgrim kisses a chevron in the form of a red and black flag with a Star of David on the hand of a Ukrainian military regiment Azov with the call sign Rebe, who came to Uman for the Rosh Hashanah holiday from the front line in the eastern direction for one day.

"A couple in love"

A photo of a young woman and a man "looking" at each other through time. An emotional shot from a concert shows that true love exists and it will definitely save the world.

March 9, 2023, Bakhmut

In a destroyed house in Bakhmut, Ukrainian soldiers found a rare 1917 edition of Kobzar. This happened on the birthday of the outstanding writer Taras Shevchenko. We want to believe that this is a good sign for Ukraine.

People's gratitute

Kramatorsk railway station. A civilian man kisses the hands of an unfamiliar soldier, thanking him for his life. This is the real people of Ukraine: kind, sincere, compassionate, and most importantly, free.

The photos are filled with pain, regret, fear and tears, but at the same time, we have great pride and respect in our hearts for all the people who are bringing Ukraine closer to victory in every way.

Hope, determination, confidence and love reign in the soul of every Ukrainian, and this is what makes our people the strongest and most fearless. We will withstand everything, we will defeat the enemy and reign on a free land. We will not be defeated.

Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events.