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Maksim Levin, Killed In Ukraine, Leaves Behind A Legacy Of Powerful Photojournalism

The power of photojournalism lies in the storyteller's ability to capture fleeting moments that have lasting impact. It is also a profession fraught with peril, especially in times of war. Ukrainian photojournalist and documentarian Maksim Levin was killed while covering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.*

A Ukrainian presidential aide said that Levin went missing on March 13 in the Kyiv region and that his body was found near the village of Huta Mezhyhirska on April 1. Ukraine's Prosecutor-General's Office said that, according to preliminary findings, Levin “was fatally shot twice with small-arms fire, by servicemen" of the Russian military. Levin, 40, leaves behind his wife and four children.
Most of Levin's images centered on conflict, yet he also had a keen eye for capturing quiet moments that linger: A villager moving his animals to safety from an encroaching fire, a mourner in tears at a cemetery, or a simple photo of a woman giving a soldier a flower in appreciation.

Here's a look at some of the stories Levin documented with his camera.

*A previous version of this gallery said that Levin was a contributor to RFE/RL. He was not.
Ukrainian photographer Maksim Levin carries a cat near the line of separation from Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's Donetsk region on January 25, 2022.
1 Ukrainian photographer Maksim Levin carries a cat near the line of separation from Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's Donetsk region on January 25, 2022.
Activists of Ukrainian opposition parties clash with riot police on October 2, 2013, as they attempted to get into the Kyiv mayor's office during a rally protesting the postponement of a mayoral election.
2 Activists of Ukrainian opposition parties clash with riot police on October 2, 2013, as they attempted to get into the Kyiv mayor's office during a rally protesting the postponement of a mayoral election.
Ukrainian riot police take cover from incendiary devices thrown by pro-European protesters during a rally in Kyiv on January 19, 2014. Close to 100,000 Ukrainians demonstrated in defiance of sweeping laws aimed at stamping out anti-government demonstrations. The previous November, protests broke out in Kyiv after the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing an Association Agreement with the European Union and decided to instead seek closer economic relations with Russia.
3 Ukrainian riot police take cover from incendiary devices thrown by pro-European protesters during a rally in Kyiv on January 19, 2014. Close to 100,000 Ukrainians demonstrated in defiance of sweeping laws aimed at stamping out anti-government demonstrations. The previous November, protests broke out in Kyiv after the Ukrainian government suspended preparations for signing an Association Agreement with the European Union and decided to instead seek closer economic relations with Russia.
A man holds a Ukrainian flag as smoke rises in the background during clashes between police and pro-European protesters in Kyiv on January 22, 2014. 
4 A man holds a Ukrainian flag as smoke rises in the background during clashes between police and pro-European protesters in Kyiv on January 22, 2014. 
Anti-government protesters gather on Independence Square in central Kyiv during the early hours of February 19, 2014. On February 22, then-President Viktor Yanukovych fled from the capital in the face of the protests that had broken out over his rule.
5 Anti-government protesters gather on Independence Square in central Kyiv during the early hours of February 19, 2014. On February 22, then-President Viktor Yanukovych fled from the capital in the face of the protests that had broken out over his rule.
Anti-government protesters lead a riot policeman away from Independence Square in Kyiv on February 20, 2014.
6 Anti-government protesters lead a riot policeman away from Independence Square in Kyiv on February 20, 2014.
Pro-Russia demonstrators take part in a rally in the Crimean town of Yevpatoria on March 5, 2014. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine that month after sending in its military forces.
7 Pro-Russia demonstrators take part in a rally in the Crimean town of Yevpatoria on March 5, 2014. Russia seized the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine that month after sending in its military forces.
A pro-Russia protester holds a riot shield at a checkpoint as smoke rises from burning tires in Slovyansk, Ukraine, on April 13, 2014. That year, Russia's military began backing separatist forces that eventually, after battles with Ukrainian government troops, took over parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
8 A pro-Russia protester holds a riot shield at a checkpoint as smoke rises from burning tires in Slovyansk, Ukraine, on April 13, 2014. That year, Russia's military began backing separatist forces that eventually, after battles with Ukrainian government troops, took over parts of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Ukrainian soldiers watch a Ukrainian military jet fly over while they sit on top of armored personnel carriers in Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine on April 16, 2014. 
9 Ukrainian soldiers watch a Ukrainian military jet fly over while they sit on top of armored personnel carriers in Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine on April 16, 2014. 
Men carry the body of a victim of an explosion at the Skochinskiy mine outside Donetsk on April 11, 2014. Seven people were killed when a blast caused by leaking gas tore through the coal mine near the eastern Ukrainian city.
10 Men carry the body of a victim of an explosion at the Skochinskiy mine outside Donetsk on April 11, 2014. Seven people were killed when a blast caused by leaking gas tore through the coal mine near the eastern Ukrainian city.
Ukrainian servicemen take cover after firing their artillery during a military operation against pro-Russia separatists near Pervomaysk in the eastern Luhansk region on August 2, 2014.
11 Ukrainian servicemen take cover after firing their artillery during a military operation against pro-Russia separatists near Pervomaysk in the eastern Luhansk region on August 2, 2014.
Ukrainian Army soldiers from the Aydar Battalion joke as they rest in the village of Schastya, near the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, on September 22, 2014.
12 Ukrainian Army soldiers from the Aydar Battalion joke as they rest in the village of Schastya, near the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk, on September 22, 2014.
A man leaves a booth before casting his vote in a presidential election at a polling station in the village of Dobropillya in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on May 25, 2014.
13 A man leaves a booth before casting his vote in a presidential election at a polling station in the village of Dobropillya in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on May 25, 2014.
A relative of a victim of shelling by Russia-backed separatists sheds tears at a cemetery in Mariupol, Ukraine, on January 27, 2015.
14 A relative of a victim of shelling by Russia-backed separatists sheds tears at a cemetery in Mariupol, Ukraine, on January 27, 2015.
A woman gives a flower to a Ukrainian serviceman during Independence Day celebrations in Avdiyivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region on August 24, 2015.
15 A woman gives a flower to a Ukrainian serviceman during Independence Day celebrations in Avdiyivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region on August 24, 2015.
A priest blesses cakes to mark Orthodox Easter with Ukrainian troops on the front line in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region on April 16, 2017.
16 A priest blesses cakes to mark Orthodox Easter with Ukrainian troops on the front line in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region on April 16, 2017.
Residents of Mahdyn in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region move to another village along with their animals on April 18, 2020, after their homes were burned by wildfires. The fires raged for weeks and swept through parts of the exclusion zone near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
17 Residents of Mahdyn in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region move to another village along with their animals on April 18, 2020, after their homes were burned by wildfires. The fires raged for weeks and swept through parts of the exclusion zone near the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Ukrainian soldiers take positions at the military air base in Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region on February 27, days after Russia launched its invasion of the country.
18 Ukrainian soldiers take positions at the military air base in Vasylkiv in the Kyiv region on February 27, days after Russia launched its invasion of the country.
Damaged buildings from the Russian shelling of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region on March 2. 
19 Damaged buildings from the Russian shelling of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region on March 2. 
A man carries a dog in Irpin near Kyiv as people flee Russian attacks on March 9.
20 A man carries a dog in Irpin near Kyiv as people flee Russian attacks on March 9.
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