Olena Kurilo, whose photo became symbol of Russia-Ukraine war, returns home in Kharkiv

By Dilara Karatas and Wolfgang Schwan

Olena Kurilo, who was photographed by Anadolu at the start of the Russia-Ukraine war on Feb. 24, 2022, and became a symbol of the conflict, returned to Kharkiv, where she was wounded in a Russian attack.

Kurilo met with Anadolu photojournalist Wolfgang Schwan, who took her photo, which made the headlines of the international press in the first days of the war, at the same place in the Chuhuiv neighborhood.

In the second year of the war, she told Anadolu about the war, her life after she was wounded, and the support of the international community.

Kurilo, wounded when a rocket hit the building where she lived during the Russian airstrike, said she did not want to stay abroad no matter what the conditions were and decided to return to Ukraine.

"If I had not been injured, I would never have left my country," the Ukrainian woman stressed, adding that she immediately bought a ticket home as soon as her treatment was over.

She noted that she underwent eye surgeries in Poland and the British capital London, but the vision in her right eye is gradually deteriorating.

- Views about the war

On Ukraine's decision to withdraw troops from the city of Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region, she said it was a correct decision and that they are currently on the defense but will definitely win no matter what happens.

About the US aid to the region, Kurilo said: "We were looking forward to getting help from the US, but unfortunately it did not happen.”

“Europe is on our side. We hope that common sense will prevail and we will be given the weapons we will win," she emphasized.

"If Russia were to prevail against us, your nation would be the next," Olena Kurilo stressed, highlighting the absence of US assistance to Ukraine, and contemplating the potential outcome of a victory by former US President Donald Trump, who is running as the Republican candidate in the election.

She showed skepticism regarding Trump's willingness to offer aid, saying: "Under a Trump presidency, the ramifications would extend far beyond our borders, affecting the global landscape."

Expressing gratitude for international support, the Ukrainian woman cautioned: "However, it's crucial to recognize that if Russia succeeds in any way, the repercussions would extend to your doorstep."

- Symbolic photo by Anadolu

The image of Olena Kurilo, captured by Schwan in Kharkiv, Ukraine, emerged as a symbol of the conflict, drawing widespread attention from media outlets worldwide.

CNN marked the onset of the war by featuring the photo, while the image adorned the front pages of prominent international newspapers such as The Guardian, The Times, The Sun, the Independent, and Bild.

It also received extensive coverage on news broadcasts of global television networks like CNN and BBC.

Titled First Face of War: Intimate Portrait of Ukrainian Teacher, 2022, the photograph was auctioned at Heritage Auctions in the US, with the entire $100,000 proceeds donated to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.

In recognition of his work, Schwan earned the top prize in the Storytelling category at the 2023 Siena International Photography Awards for his series titled Ukrainian War.

Olena Kurilo: The Face of the Ukrainian War also secured an honorable mention in the Documentary & Photojournalism category.

* Writing by Merve Berker