Wagging Tails in Troubled Times - Charlies Story

In the midst of the battle of Bakhmut, a story of hope and unwavering determination unfolded. It's the story of Charlie, a tiny, fragile puppy found by a British International Legion soldier on a dirt track. This barely month-old pup, skin and bones, would soon embark on a remarkable journey of survival, love, and an extraordinary bond that knows no boundaries.

Charlie posing for the camera in his new home in North Yorkshire.

In mid November 2022 Charlie's fate took an unexpected turn. His saviour, a British International Legion soldier who was returning from an operation in the eastern city of Bakhmut. He spotted a young malnourished and defenceless puppy in the middle of the dirt track. The team suddenly stopped their vehicle and the Legion soldier heroically scooped him up whilst under enemy artillery fire. This small act saved him from the brink of death.

After some time living with the team in a basement in a small village on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Charlie began his transformation from a frail pup to a resilient survivor. He received much needed treatment from a frontline vet who provided necessary food and advice to nurse him back to health. It was during this time that he adopted his role as the unit dog, affectionately known as "Two Sox."

Charlie asleep under the butt of a PKM machine gun in a safehouse near the Bakhmut front.

Charlie's journey took a new direction when I crossed paths with him in restaurant in Kyiv over dinner with his rescuer. From that moment a bond was formed, and hearts were captured by this tiny bundle of fur. I knew in my mind that this adorable dog would be coming home with me.

Charlie in a restaurant in Kyiv.

Despite their growing affection, Charlie couldn't stay with the unit who found him due to strict animal rules set by the legion soldiers landlord. Sadly, he was put up for adoption and was taken to the animal rescue shelter called ‘Dogs adopt Kyiv’.

From here, Charlie's journey was far from straightforward, as the family who initially adopted him had a change of heart, and he found himself once again searching for a loving home. I was contacted by the shelter on the 31st of December 2022 asking if I would like to formally adopt him. The answer was of course “YES”.

Determined not to lose the opportunity to give Charlie a forever home, a frantic search ensued. I contacted all my friends accross Ukraine desperately trying to find someone to temporarily look after him. Thankfully my wonderful friend in Lviv offered to provide temporary shelter for Charlie. I didn’t know it at the time but the long and confusing process of vaccinations and paperwork began in January and would go on for 5 months! Doing everything long distance from the UK only made things harder too.

Charlie in Lviv with Bohdana.

In February, during a trip I took documenting the work of humanitarian volunteers, Charlie and I had the chance to spend quality time together playing and getting used to each other again. This period helped strengthen our bond, setting the stage for a remarkable journey ahead. Unfortunately this trip was cut short due to a family emergency in the UK so i reluctantly said a very sad goodbye hoping the next time I saw him would be the time to bring him home.

By the time I was able to get to Ukraine again Charlie's documents were finally in order and he was ready for his journey to the UK. After a month working in Ukraine we were finally ready for the 1,500-mile adventure to the UK which awaited us. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in both of our lives and the end of his incredible story of survival in Ukraine.

Charlie at the Ukrainian Border.

On the 2nd of July 2023, after a monumental journey spanning 5 countries, Charlie and I finally made it to the UK together. He has since settled in so well at home and has even managing to make time for a number of media appearances!

Charlie’s TV debut on BBC Look North (Yorkshire).

Unfortunately after two months in the UK, Charlie tragically broke his leg whilst playing in the garden. He loves to run and jump freely but one day he jumped up and landed on one leg on uneven ground resulting in him loosing balance and falling onto it. He needed urgent surgery to aid his recovery so his leg would be saved and we spent almost £6,000 so he could get the best possible treatment. He now has a metal implant which was installed to stabilise the injury and strengthen the bone.

Charlie’s x-ray after his surgery.

Despite his injuries and all of the challenges Charlie has faced, he is in my eyes the bravest dog in the world. I have unconditional love for him and look forward to many happy years to come with my best friend.

Charlie and I waiting for the ferry in Amsterdam.

To support my work in Ukraine please consider contributing to my GoFundMe: CLICK HERE

Nightclubs to War Zones - My Journey

In 2016, I began working in the nightlife industry as a photographer and videographer. It started as a small university job, which then turned into a full-time job when I dropped out of higher education. The money was great, and I loved the atmosphere, but the antisocial work hours were rather undesirable as a teetotal non-drinker. In February 2022, after working six or seven nights a week for months, I began to burn out and lose my passion, which led me to start searching for something new.

On the night of February 23rd, 2022, I was working one of my regular nightclub photography jobs at Kuda York. From what I remember of this particular shift, the night was fairly uneventful, and everything was business as usual. That was until my shift came to an end around 3 am on the morning of the 24th, when news was just breaking online that Russia had once again violated Ukraine's borders, and a full-scale invasion had begun.

The news made me want to do something to help, but I had no idea what I could do. It wasn't until a conversation over dinner in early March with my friend Sean that I realized that I didn't need to pick up a weapon to help Ukraine, but I could use my camera to tell stories instead. Images are my weapon. Sean introduced me to his friend Ondrej, who had documented the war before the escalation last year. He invited me to join him in Poland to document the refugee crisis.

Around 10 days later, I was in Poland at the Ukraine border crossing, witnessing the mass exodus of refugees fleeing the war firsthand. Soon after arriving, I realized the gravity of the situation and ended up volunteering with local grassroots organizations that had set up in response to the war. Despite the language barrier, I was welcomed to the team at Przemyśl station for the 4 am shifts, distributing humanitarian aid, and supporting Ukrainian nationals arriving in Poland.

A Ukrainian woman and child browsing donated clothes at Medyka, Poland - By Edward Matthews

After a week of exhausting volunteer shifts, it was time to return home. This was very short-lived, however, because that week in Poland changed my life and career aspirations for good. I knew that from that moment onwards, I had to dedicate my time to documenting important issues and using my photography skills to raise awareness of them.

Just 10 days later, I was already returning to Poland to continue where I left off. Upon returning, I was asked to join a volunteer aid team delivering aid to Dnipro in the East of Ukraine to document their trip. This would become my first experience of war.

Portrait of me working with the DSNS in recently liberated Kupiansk December 2022

I’ve now completed six trips to Ukraine, supporting humanitarian aid teams and working as a documentary photographer.

When I first started my photography career, I never imagined that my work would take me to the frontlines of a war zone but after experiencing it firsthand, I knew that I had found my calling. It’s been a fascinating experience documenting the effects of war on civilians, capturing the humanity in the face of adversity, and the incredible resilience of the human spirit.

It's hard to describe the emotions and experiences I've encountered over the past year but the beauty and kindness of Ukrainian people, juxtaposed with the horrors of war and displacement, have left a permanent mark on me. There’s definitely a stark contrast between the vibrant nightlife industry and the harsh realities of war zone.

By raising awareness of the human cost of war, I hope to inspire empathy, understanding, and action. I want to use this platform to show that war is not just statistics, but real people with real lives.

If you would like to support my documentary work so I can continue producing more content then you can donate here: GoFundMe.