Pulitzer-prize winning photographer Cathal McNaughton keeps the focus on Ukraine

A Pulitzer-Prize winning photographer from Northern Ireland has said the people of Ukraine must not be forgotten after two years of war.

Cathal McNaughton from Cushendall travelled to Ukraine last year, capturing powerful portraits of civilians as life continues after the Russian invasion.

The collection of images entitled ‘Ukraine – Searching for the Normal’ is currently on display at the Belfast Exposed photography gallery on Donegall Street.

Among the emotionally powerful images include a young girl on a scooter in front of damaged Russian tanks and a man resting his head on the coffin of a Ukranian fighter pilot.

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Earlier this year, Mr McNaughton commented that while media focus had shifted to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the world should not turn a blind eye to Ukraine.

“Regardless of how many column inches it is currently getting the war is still going on and colleagues continue to risk their lives to shine a light into the dark corners,” he said.

The celebrated photographer won his Pulitzer in 2018 for his coverage of the Rohingya refugee crisis in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

He also previously worked as chief photographer for Reuters in India as well as covering stories across Europe.

The Belfast Exposed gallery said his Ukraine collection “exemplifies his unmatched skill and empathy as a visual storyteller, vividly narrating the tale of a nation grappling with the turmoil of war while striving to maintain an aspect of everyday life.”