A HEREFORDSHIRE man has shared heart-breaking pictures of Ukraine as he works to report on the devastating impact Russia’s invasion has had on the country.
Civilians trying to escape in their cars with their families shelled by Russian tanks waiting for them on the road on the edge of town in Irpin, Ukraine. Picture: Peter Masters
Civilians trying to escape in their cars with their families shelled by Russian tanks waiting for them on the road on the edge of town in Irpin, Ukraine. Picture: Peter Masters
Pete Masters, who previously owned Skinzophrenic tattoo parlour in Hereford, is a war photographer who travelled to the war-stricken country.
Russia began its invasion on Ukraine in February leading to many fleeing as refugees to the UK and other countries.
Today (Friday) Russia will formally annex occupied parts of Ukraine where it held Kremlin-orchestrated “referendums” in which it claimed that residents had voted overwhelmingly to live under Moscow’s rule.
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The Ukrainian government and the West have denounced the ballots as illegal, forced and rigged.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend a ceremony on Friday in the Kremlin when four regions of Ukraine — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — will be officially folded into Russia, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday.
Pointless shelling and destruction of civilian houses in Irpin, Ukraine. Picture: Peter Masters
Mr Masters pictures and videos show burnt cars piled high, bombed houses, and the reminisce of the lives that have now been stripped of their homes.
A civilian block of apartments in Irpin a small town just outside Kyiv. Picture: Peter Masters
Bullet holes can be seen in the same place where a child’s car seat has been left.
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Destroyed home in Ukraine. Picture: Peter Masters
He shared photos showing a tactical strike on a bridge by the Ukrainians to stop tanks and troops getting to Kyiv.
A civilian block of apartments in Irpin, a small town just outside Kyiv, can be seen.
Tactical strike by Ukraine on its own bridge to stop Russian tanks and troops getting to Kyiv. Picture: Peter Masters
As well as pointless shelling and destruction of civilian houses in the same area, he said.
Burnt cars piled high are the remains of civilians trying to escape with their families before they were shelled by Russian tanks waiting for them on the road on the edge of town.
A civilian block of apartments in Irpin a small town just outside Kyiv. Picture: Peter Masters
Mr Masters returns to Hereford next week when he will share what it was like out there.
You can also follow his journey via his Instagram page.
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