Dedicated to the consequences of Russian aggression in Ukraine, Igor Efimov’s project Unbroken is a continuation of his documentary photographic practice. Since 2014, Efimov has worked on projects about wounded servicemen and the families of Ukraine’s fallen heroes. By focusing on personal stories, the author reveals the shared pain of loss and the strength of the human spirit to endure it.
This series portrays Ukrainian veterans and servicemen who have suffered severe injuries during the war. Although the theme is emotionally challenging and demands a great deal of empathy, Efimov has always emphasized that it would be far more difficult for him not to speak about it. He believes that the celebrated resilience of Ukrainians is most vividly embodied in these heroes who have sacrificed their health defending their homeland—and that this sacrifice deserves the respect and attention of a wide audience.
The starting point of the project, according to the author, was a photoshoot he did for a friend of his (callsign Texas) who had lost both legs in the war. Efimov photographed Texas together with his son—their first studio shoot. The photographer notes that this was a therapeutic experience for his subject—both due to the attention and support shown to him, and the intimate moment of bonding with his son.
Efimov continued this practice with other veterans and servicemen. By spending a lot of time talking with them and building a trusting atmosphere he was able to avoid artificiality in his studio portraits of them, capturing their personalities in a more natural way. In doing so, the author not only got to know his subjects—he became friends with them.
Later, he photographed qualifying events for the national Invictus Games in Ukraine and met many familiar faces there. The collective experience, atmosphere of solidarity, and mutual support inspired him to expand the Unbroken project with a series of reportage shots of joint training sessions and moments from the rehabilitation process. The mutual care and spirit of brotherhood captured in these photographs convey a sense of vitality and hope—something still sorely missing in the Ukrainian information space.
Text by Igor Efimov; Photos by Igor Efimov.
Igor Efimov is a Ukrainian documentary and portrait photographer. Author of solo and group exhibitions both in Ukraine and abroad. Through the photo series Unbroken, he documents severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers to raise awareness, foster social inclusion, and honour their resilience.
