Yuliana Romaniv — Azovstal Solidarity, Lviv
Yuliana Romaniv is one of the few photographers regularly documenting the Ukraine solidarity movement in London. Originally from Ukraine, she moved to London for work as Russia’s full-scale invasion began and over the past four years has photographed many rallies, vigils and cultural events in support of Ukraine.
Her first gallery series for PRESS captures one of the many rallies held in Lviv, her home city, in support of the defenders of Azovstal and the prisoners of war still held by Russia.
The Azovstal Iron and Steel Works became the final Ukrainian stronghold during the siege of Mariupol in 2022. Ukrainian marines, National Guard soldiers, border guards, police and members of the Azov Regiment held out inside the plant’s tunnels and bunkers under constant Russian bombardment, despite severe shortages of food, water, medicine and ammunition.
In May 2022, Ukraine ordered the defenders to leave Azovstal to save lives. Around 2,500 were taken into Russian captivity. As of the latest specific public figure found, reported in May 2025, 1,279 Azovstal defenders had been returned, while roughly 1,200 were still not returned. Some died in captivity, including prisoners killed in the Olenivka attack in July 2022.
Yuliana’s photographs connect this wider history to public acts of remembrance and protest, showing families, campaigners and communities demanding that the remaining prisoners are not forgotten.
