Starry night

Ukrainian photographer Pavlo Pakhomenko captures the Milky Way over war-torn Kharkiv

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Kharkiv has been one of the hardest hit cities in Ukraine. Due to regular airstrikes and its proximity to the frontline, blackouts and a nightly curfew have been in effect for months. The authorities have asked residents to avoid turning on the lights in their apartments and the city’s streets are no longer lit. As a result, on a clear night, you can see thousands of stars over the city — and even the Milky Way. Seizing on the opportunity, photographer and astronomy fan Pavlo Pakhomenko captured remarkable snapshots of night-time Kharkiv without light pollution. With the author’s permission, Meduza shares his photos here.

“I’ve dreamed of taking shots like these for years, hoping for a planned power outage or educational event,” Pavlo Pakhomenko wrote on Instagram. “Unfortunately, an ‘evil genie’ granted my wish in the most unpleasant way — via this war. My new dream, after the Victory, is that every year at the end of February, on a clear, moonless night, the lights will be turned off for one hour and everyone will go outside and look at the stars and remember all those who this war has taken from us.”

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Photos by Pavlo Pakhomenko