As the war continues in Ukraine, an influx of information is flooding social media. In the midst of streams, it can sometimes be difficult to decipher what’s going on and what might be wrong – even posters with the best of intentions can broadcast incorrect or misleading images.
To stay informed, we’ve compiled a list of 10 trustworthy Instagram accounts to follow that are actively reporting on the war. Many of them are powered by photojournalists from credible organizations like the Associated Press and Reuters, while others provide a window into the lives of native Ukrainians who cover the invasion as journalists and citizens.
What follows is a brief introduction to each photographer, listing the credentials and experience that cement their good faith. Other than that, we let their work speak for itself.
How we selected these accounts
To be considered for this article, we chose accounts with recent content in their feed and those that either have a profile with identifiable information showing the owner’s affiliations with media organizations or a portfolio showing that they are a practicing photojournalist. Additionally, each of these stories was shared by renowned photojournalist Marcus Yam, who is currently reporting from Ukraine for the Los Angeles Times.
Spectator discretion
Please note that the images that follow may be graphic, so readers should view them at their own discretion. We are aware that these photographs can sometimes be difficult to look at, but we also believe that their impact cannot (and should not) be overlooked.
Anastasia Taylor Lind
Anastasia Taylor-Lind contributes to WEATHER, National geographicand The New York Times, among others. She documents the stories of surrogate mothers and soldiers on the front line, as well as the arrival of refugees in neighboring countries.
Vadim Ghirda
Vadim Ghirda is an Associated Press photographer with extensive experience covering war and unrest in Europe. He began his career in 1990 when he joined the PA at 18 and recorded the political unrest resulting from the fall of communism.
Philippe de Poulpiquet
Philippe de Poulpiquet is a French photojournalist who works with media such as Release, M The Worldand Le Parisien magazine. He is currently on the ground in Ukraine on behalf of The Parisian.
Julia Kochetova
Julia Kochetova is a Ukrainian documentary photographer and director. She is in Ukraine to share her own experiences and the stories of others. His work reporting on the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbass has previously been featured on BBC Online, The Guardian, National geographic, and more. His award-winning autobiographical documentary, “See You Later”, has screened at film festivals around the world.
Yevgeny Maloletka
Evgeniy Maloletka is an award-winning Ukrainian freelance photographer and filmmaker whose work has been featured in The TelegraphUNICEF, BuzzFeed News, Bloomberg, and more. He works actively for the Associated Press covering the war.
Mstyslav Chernov
Mstyslav Chernov is a Ukrainian multimedia journalist whose reporting has taken him everywhere from Iraq to Libya for The Associated Press. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Postthe the wall street journal, and more. He has actively participated in projects led by the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Amnesty International, among others. Chernov is currently on the ground in Ukraine for The Associated Press.
Mikhail Palinchak
Mikhail Palinchak is a Ukrainian street and documentary photographer working in Kyiv. His work has appeared in a variety of international publications and he has published numerous books. Palinchak’s photographs have also been widely exhibited in galleries around the world.
Yuki Iwamura
Yuki Iwamura is a freelance photographer based in Tokyo and working in Kyiv. He works with Reuters and has had work published in France Media Agency, Bloomberg Newsand more.
Laurel Choir
Laurel Chor is an Emmy-nominated freelance journalist, photographer, filmmaker and National geographic explorer working in Ukraine for the Brazen project.
Hailey Sadler
Hailey Sadler is a documentary photographer who has worked for National geographicthe Associated Press, PBS and The Washington Post, to name a few. Much of its war coverage is based in Lviv, Ukraine.
Some ways to help Ukrainians
If you are moved to help the people of Ukraine during this crisis, here is a (non-exhaustive) list of aid organizations.
UNICEF
According to the UN, women and children now represent 90% of refugees from war. UNICEF is working with partners to provide health, sanitation and water services, among other essentials. Their Twitter feed details the efforts on the ground.
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders, also known as Doctors Without Borders, provides emergency medical services in major cities such as Kyiv, Lviv and Odessa. It provides medical supplies, trains health workers, runs mobile clinics and organizes emergency evacuations. This page shares updates on their efforts.
United Nations Refugee Agency
UNHCR is working to coordinate assistance with inter-agency convoys delivering aid. During a press briefing on April 6, UNHCR spokesman Matthew Saltmarsh reported that 3,000 people had been supplied in Sievierodonetsk and Luhansk, two cities constantly bombarded and suffering from a shortage of gas, water and electricity. See this page for more updates.
If you know of other organizations working to help Ukraine or other Instagram accounts that are actively and accurately reporting the conflict, please share in the comments below.
