Rutland photo journalist returns from Ukraine with horrifying stories
He says the photos he took are the "most powerful" of them all
A photo journalist who lived in Rutland for over 20 years has just returned from Ukraine where he was documenting his experience.
Some of his previous work has been displaced at Stamford Arts Centre but he says the pictures he recently snapped in Eastern Europe are the "most powerful" of them all.
Mr Hunter has been to war zones all around the world but says the Ukrainian civilians were the most unique in their response to the war. He shared with us some of the pictures he captured and some of the horrifying stories he heard.
How do you plan for a trip like this?
Mr Hunter tells us it its vital to plan your stay before going into any dangerous war zone and having connections in the country that can ensure you are safe.
He tells us he chose to visit Ukraine at a time he believed would be “relatively safe” although you “always have to be extremely cautious about what you do and where you go." He remained safe and returned to the UK with “a very important story to tell.”
A woman had her husband taken away by the Russians
Hunter shared with us some of the horrifying stories he heard. A woman he spoke to told him that her husband was taken away and killed by the Russians.
“Svetlana’s husband Oleksandr was walking along a street in Bucha. He was apprehended by five Russian soldiers."
"They took his mobile phone and searched it for 'illegal information'. He had a photo of a Russian tank column on it.
"He was taken to a garden, close by, and executed in front of his wife. They had just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary.
"The Russians told Sveltlana that if she tried to retrieve his body, she would also be executed. It was 15 days later before she could bury him.”
We cannot independently verify this information, but there are widespread reports of civilian executions in Bucha.
He shared another story of a woman whose home was attacked by the Russians.
“Ludmilla is a housewife who became a victim of the battle of Hostomel when Russian Airborne Forces fought to gain control of the town and its Airport due to the intensity of the fighting during February, March and April, Hostomel became one of the most dangerous of all towns to live in. Her house stood on the highest point of the town."
"When the attack on Hostomel began she posted on her fence a sign 'we are peaceful people'.
"This did not stop troops from entering her house and accusing her of allowing Ukrainian forces to use her property as an observation point.
"The next day a Russian tank took up a position in the valley below and began shelling Ludmilla’s house.
"She took refuge in her cellar holding her most treasure possession, a religious Icon. She’s convinced this saved her life. A coffee pot and her icon are just about all she’s got left. She’s now living with a neighbour. Her Insurance Company are unable to cover her for the rebuilding of her house.”
People have gotten used to living in imminent danger
Jeremy Hunter tells us that one of the most unique things he discovered is that the civilians have gotten used to living in imminent danger.
He tells us that in the town centre, "Kids are riding around on electric scooters seemingly without a care in the world but at the same time these air raid sirens are going on at night and perhaps there were explosions takin place on the outskirt of the city".
For more information visit: Jeremy Hunter's website