Kostiantyn Liberov

Kostiantyn Liberov
Костянтин Григорович Ліберов
Born (1992-06-03) June 3, 1992
Nerubaiske, Biliaivka Raion, Odesa Oblast, Ukraine
Other namesLIBKOS
CitizenshipUkraine
Alma materOdesa I. I. Mechnikov National University (Law)
OccupationsDocumentary photographer, photojournalist
OrganizationUkrainian Association of Professional Photographers
Known forCoverage of the Russian–Ukrainian war; collaboration with Vlada Liberova
AwardsOrder of Merit, 3rd class (Ukraine); Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award (2023); "For assistance to the Army" (2022–2023); DSNS (State Emergency Service) distinction; KSE Foundation – 150 Foundation Award (2025)

Kostiantyn Liberov (Ukrainian: Костянтин Григорович Ліберов; born 3 June 1992, Nerubaiske, Odesa Oblast) is a Ukrainian documentary photographer and photojournalist known for his coverage of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. He works as a creative duo with his wife Vlada Liberova under the joint pseudonym LIBKOS. Their collaborative project LIBKOS has received international recognition and has been widely published in global media.

Biography

Liberov was born in Nerubaiske, Odesa Oblast. He attended Lyceum No. 2 in Odesa and later studied law at Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University.

Before the start of Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022, Liberov worked in artistic and commercial photography, producing portrait and art shoots in collaboration with Vlada Liberova. From 2019 to 2022 he taught an online photography course as part of the educational project "Anti-Photo School" educational project.[1][2][3]

Work

After the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2022, Kostiantyn Liberov and Vlada Liberova turned to documenting the war, covering events in frontline and affected regions across Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Sviatohirsk, Mykolaiv, Bucha, Kyiv and other settlements impacted by action.[4][5] In December 2023, Vlada Liberova sustained a shrapnel wound while on an editorial assignment at the front.[6]

Liberov's works have repeatedly been included in international selections of photographs of the year:

  • Top 100 Photos of the Year (Peta Pixel, 2023–2024)[7]
  • The Year in Pictures (The Guardian, 2023)[8]
  • Images of the Year (The Washington Post, Al Jazeera, 2022–2024)[9][10]
  • Most Powerful Photos of the Year (Business Insider, 2023)[11]
  • Year in Review (Getty Images, 2023)[12]
  • In Photos Series (The Atlantic, 2023)[13]
  • Top 100 Photos (TIME, 2022)[14]
  • Top 100 Photos (TIME, 2023)[15]
  • Year in Review (Getty Images, 2024)[16]
  • THE YEAR IN PICTURES (CNN, 2022)[17]
  • THE YEAR IN PICTURES (CNN, 2023)[18]
  • AP's top 2022 photos (AP, 2022)[19]
  • 2022 in pictures: Following the war in Ukraine (Euronews, 2022)
  • Al Jazeera Photos: A year in pictures (Al Jazeera, 2023)[10]
  • ENDURING IMAGES (Washington Post, 2023)[9]
  • The most powerful news photos of the year (Business Insider, 2023)[20]
  • The photographs that defined 2024 (The Guardian, 2024)
  • 2022 in Photos: Wrapping Up the Year (The Atlantic, 2022)
  • 2023 in Photos: A Look at the Middle Months (The Atlantic, 2023)
  • 2024 in Photos: Wrapping Up the Year (The Atlantic, 2024)
  • The Year in Pictures 2024 (The Economist, 2024)

Among the publishers, there were The Kyiv Independent,[21] The New York Times,[22] Los Angeles Times,[23] The Wall Street Journal,[24] The Insider,[25] The Independent,[26][27] TIME, The Guardian, CNN, BBC, The Washington Post, Forbes, Vogue, Euronews, Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Getty Images, ELLE, Playboy та інші медіа.[28][29]

Some of his photographs credited by Getty Images / LIBKOS have appeared on TVP World and Slawa.tv.[30]

In 2022–2023, Liberov collaborated with the international agency Associated Press, and Getty Images since 2024.[31][32]

Recognition and awards

  • Bayeux Calvados-Normandy Award for war correspondents (2023).[33]
  • Awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd class, by the President of Ukraine on 23 August 2023 for courage, dedication and significant contribution to covering the war.[34]
  • "For assistance to the Army" award from the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and a distinction from the State Emergency Service (DSNS) in 2022–2023.[35]
  • KSE Foundation – 150 Foundation Award (2025) for contribution to Ukrainian documentary photography.[36]

Exhibitions and projects

Liberov has participated in exhibitions and projects in more than 15 countries, including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan, the United States, Lithuania, Poland, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Notable exhibitions and projects include:

  • Collision Line — Kyiv, Ukraine (VDNG, Pavilion 4, 2024).[37]
  • Is This Peace? — Venice, Italy (Chiesa di San Lazzaro dei Mendicanti, 2024)
  • At the Heart of War — London, United Kingdom (LSE, 2023).[38]
  • Ukraine: Journalists in War Zones — Paris, France (2023).[39]
  • Culture vs War — Strasbourg, France (Council of Europe, 2024).[40]
  • The Power of Humanity — Osaka, Japan (EXPO 2025, 2025).[41]
  • Far and Yet So Close — Leiden, Netherlands (2025).[42]
  • War Chronicles: Ukraine 2014–2025 — Kyiv, Ukraine (Book Arsenal, 2025).[43]

Publications

In September 2024, together with cinematographer Serhiy Mykhalchuk and poet Serhiy Zhadan, Liberov presented the Culture vs War art project — an artbook, photo exhibition and a series of documentary films dubbed into several world languages.[44]

Liberov's photographs were included in the collective edition War Chronicles: Ukraine 2014-2025 collective edition, prepared by the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers together with FotoEvidence.[45]

Volunteering and public stance

Alongside their professional work, Kostiantyn Liberov and Vlada Liberova participate in volunteer initiatives, coordinating the delivery of humanitarian aid and support for civilians.[46]

In April 2025 the couple published a photograph of a wounded woman after a missile strike on Kyiv that sparked public debate about the ethics of war photography. The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers stated that it did not see professional standard violations in the publication and emphasized the importance of documenting the reality of war. The couple later removed the photo amid online criticism.[47]

References

  1. ^ Татаренко, Ірина (2023-02-24). "Роль культури під час війни: інтерв'ю з українськими фотографами Костянтином та Владою Ліберовими". Marie Claire (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  2. ^ "From Weddings to War: How Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov photograph Ukraine's daily horrors". Milwaukee Independent. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  3. ^ "'We Are Not Going Back to Wedding Photography': How Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov Started Shooting the War". Bird In Flight. 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  4. ^ "Harrowing photos capture Ukraine's frontline rescue efforts". NV. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  5. ^ Степура, Антон (2025-04-10). ""This is an absolutely different level of fear": photographer Liberov on a trip to Pokrovsk". Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  6. ^ Буняк, Валерія (2023-12-22). "Documentary photographer Vlada Liberova was wounded by shrapnel at the front". Detector Media (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  7. ^ Growcoot, Matt (2023-11-21). "TIME Shares its Top 100 Photos of 2023 Covering Major Global Events". PetaPixel. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  8. ^ "Pictures of the year | The Guardian". www.theguardian.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  9. ^ a b "Year in photos: Enduring images of 2023". Washington Post. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  10. ^ a b Agencies, News. "Photos: 2023 – a year in pictures". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-11-26. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ Lakritz, Talia. "The most powerful news photos of the year". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  12. ^ "Getty Images: 2023 Year In Review". Getty Images Press Site - Newsroom - Getty Images. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  13. ^ Taylor, Alan. "2023 in Photos: Wrapping Up the Year - The Atlantic". www.theatlantic.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  14. ^ "TIME's Top 100 Photos of 2022". TIME. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
  15. ^ "TIME's Top 100 Photos of 2023". TIME. Archived from the original on 2025-09-10. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  16. ^ "2024 News Images & Videos | Best news & editorial images of the year". 2024 News Images & Videos | Best news & editorial images of the year. 2025-01-13. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  17. ^ "2022: The year in pictures". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  18. ^ "2023: The year in pictures". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  19. ^ "AP's top 2022 photos capture a planet bursting at the seams". AP News. 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  20. ^ Lakritz, Talia. "The most powerful news photos of the year". Business Insider. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  21. ^ "In constantly shelled Mykolaiv, volunteers do not back down". The Kyiv Independent. 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  22. ^ Russian Invasion of Ukraine Braces for Attack as Russian Troops Mass in South // The New York Times. — 2022. — 3 серпня.
  23. ^ More blasts in Russian-controlled Crimea shift focus of attention in Ukraine war // Los Angeles Times. — 2022. — 16 серпня.
  24. ^ Ukraine Seeks More Arms, Closer Ties to West After Taking Ground From Russia // The Wall Street Journal. — 2022. — 13 вересня.
  25. ^ N. Musumeci. Russia has screwed up over and over in its war in Ukraine, and Western militaries need to learn from its mistakes, former US Army general says // The Insider. — 2022. — 16 січня.
  26. ^ Evidence found of war crimes committed in Ukraine, experts say // The Independent. — 2022. — 23 вересня.
  27. ^ Russia hits power stations after Ukraine counter-offensive // The Independent. — 2022. — 11 вересня.
  28. ^ "UAPP News Story - What did the international press publish in December? A selection of photos by Ukrainian photographers". www.ukrainianphotographers.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  29. ^ "Українські фотографи Костянтин та Владислава Ліберови про війну: ми хочемо показати світу правду". www.pap.pl. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  30. ^ "UAPP Photographer - Kostiantyn and Vlada Liberov". www.ukrainianphotographers.com. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  31. ^ "Reflections of War: A Year in Ukraine". AP NEWS. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  32. ^ "Влада та Костянтин Ліберови про знайомство, кохання на відстані та відкриття під час війни". Elle – модний жіночий журнал (in Ukrainian). 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  33. ^ "Photographer Liberov received the French award for war correspondents". Ukrinform (in Ukrainian). 2024-10-14. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  34. ^ "UKAZ OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE № 502/2023 «On state awards of Ukraine on the occasion of Independence Day of Ukraine»". Official web site of the President of Ukraine. 2023-08-23. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  35. ^ "Liberov received a prestigious award. His war photos from Ukraine stunned the world". RBC-Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  36. ^ "Talents for Ukraine". 150.foundation.kse.ua. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  37. ^ ""Collision Line": exhibition of frontline photographs by the Liberovs at VDNH". vdng.ua. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  38. ^ "At the Heart of War". London School of Economics. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  39. ^ "Ukraine: Journalists in War Zones". Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  40. ^ "Photo Exhibition "Culture vs War"". Council of Europe. 2023-11-06. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  41. ^ "International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Pavilion". Expo 2025 Osaka. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  42. ^ "Photo Exhibition in the Netherlands reveals Russia's war crimes". Frontliner. 2025-01-22. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  43. ^ "WAR CHRONICLES: UKRAINE 2014–2025". Book Arsenal. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  44. ^ "Culture vs War project dubbed documentaries in world's most spoken languages". Ukrinform. 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  45. ^ "FotoEvidence — War Chronicles: Ukraine 2014–2025". FotoEvidence. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  46. ^ "Volunteers and a photographer caught in Russian shelling at the front". RBC-Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2025-11-26.
  47. ^ "Again about the photo that did not stop the war". UAPP. Retrieved 2025-11-26.
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