Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it feels as though we’ve been launched into the past. Although the war has been ongoing for many years Putin’s decision to attack has thrown the lives of many into chaos. In one of their recent covers, TIME magazine calls it “the return of history,” and we’d have to agree. With places like maternity wards being bombed, it’s hard to have hope during these times.
As these tragic events have been occurring in Eastern Europe, the coverage has been dominating the major media outlets around the world. Magazines and newspapers aren’t to make a statement — they’ve been responding with powerful imagery in their pages and on their magazine covers, and we don’t think that’s ending anytime soon. Here are the biggest media reactions in the world to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
1. Vanity Fair Italy, 2022
Vanity Fair Italy released their March issue with a serious black and white image of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the subtitle “The Face of the Resistance” beneath. It’s a sign of how the president has galvanized the entire world to help fight back against attacks like this.
2. The New Yorker, 2022
The March cover of the New Yorker shows a cartoon illustration of the Ukrainian president surrounded by smoke and rubble, defiantly standing in the middle of it all and proudly holding up his country’s flag. It’s a symbol of his refusal to run away from his nation in times of turmoil.
3. TIME Magazine, 2022
In TIME magazine’s latest cover, they depict tanks with soldiers in it, and the caption “the Return of History: How Putin Shattered Europe’s Dreams.” It’s one of the most powerful imagery and caption pairings, showing how much we are truly haunted by history, and how it, unfortunately, tends to repeat itself.
4. The Economist, 2022
The Economist recently featured an all-red cover and boldly dubbed their recent issue “The Stalinization of Russia” with the letter Z being replaced by a powerful image of a soldier in the midst of warfare.
