COTM | BTG SHORTLIST 2025
EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD

Anya Tsaruk
I Hope Your Family is Safe
Anya Tsaruk is a Ukrainian photographer based in Berlin. Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, her work now focuses on the themes of identity, trauma, migration, and community. Through photography, she aims to raise awareness about the war in her homeland and honour the resilience and strength of people impacted by it.
I Hope Your Family is Safe
"I Hope Your Family is Safe" is a project about my loved ones living in Ukraine, inspired by the well-meaning but unsettling phrase often said to me by foreigners. The work explores the layered and uncertain meaning of ‘safety’ in a country in war. The project challenges mainstream representations of contemporary Ukraine, offering a narrative grounded in love, hope, and resilience. Through it, I aim to contribute a piece to the mosaic of Ukrainian identity — my vision of Ukraine, one that reflects my people's bravery, vulnerability, defiance, and desire for freedom. With a tender and intimate approach, I hope to challenge the “othering” of people at war and evoke empathy that is rooted not in pity, but in shared human experiences.












