On 9 March 2022, the Russian invaders bombed Mariupol, Donetsk region. The bombs fell on the city maternity hospital #3. During the rescue operation, journalist Yevhen Maloletka documented the Russian crimes and Mariupol's pain in the photographs. In April 2023, World Press Photo recognized his photo as one of the year's best pictures.
The photograph is taken at the moment. In the background of the image, you can see the effects of the explosion: it destroyed the hospital and burned cars and trees. In the foreground, Ukrainian rescuers carry a pregnant woman on a stretcher. The woman in the photo is Iryna Kalinina. The photograph shows the woman is pale, with several wounds on her body. Yevhen captured the last moments of Iryna Kalinin's life – she and her unborn child died in 30 minutes after due to injuries caused by the Russian bomb.
"For me, this is a moment that I always want to forget, but I can't. This story will always be with me," Yevhen Maloletka.
"This photograph is clear evidence of Russia's war crimes against the peaceful population of Ukraine," World Press Photo Foundation executive director Juman El Zein Khuri.
On that day, a Russian air raid killed 5 people. Also, the occupiers wounded at least 17 people.
