Don’t Die Today
I wanted to make a zine since my days in DR Congo, to show my father the moments between the final images. I never started—and he died before I could share those stories. Nearly 20 years later, with support from Dmitry and Arc, I’m finally doing it. This first issue is about controlling fear on Ukraine’s drone-infected frontline.
The backstory
Kostyantynivka, Donbas again—it's a city I've entered so many times I’ve lost count. Usually, I’m just passing through, maybe stopping for a few pictures. But October 3rd, 2025, was different.
Issue 1
I’m driving with Volker Papst, NZZ journalist, on my right, both of us in body armor and helmets, two cameras with me. I keep the door slightly open in case the press officer spots a drone. If one comes in, we brake hard and jump out in opposite directions, away from the vehicle.
This map shows the Russian advances around Kramatorsk and Kostyantynivka, where we worked. The town is almost encircled with only one main road in and out, so we used side roads. The FPV drone range reaches Kramatorsk and easily covers Kostyantynivka from all directions.
The soldier uses a special weapon that fires like a shotgun to hit drones coming toward us. He is basically ready for anything, which is pretty unnerving. This is right before we get out of the vehicle and start walking into the city.
We walk or run into the city, separated so one hit does not take all of us. With no cover you just look for anything. Bushes actually help, the leaves can mask you. You push yourself deep inside so if a drone detonates it hits the foliage first, not your body.
I am behind Volker, using a building as cover, even if drones can move around it. We wait for the military spokesperson on the other side to give us the go to continue walking. We are basically using the wall as a visual shield from whatever might be above us.
We have to be sure we do not give up the position of camps, so this was tricky. I used the netting to cover as much as possible while showing the soldier silhouetted and the police station burning in the distance. A bit of a visual trick to hide where we actually are.
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