Journalist Fedchenko expressed her pain over a photo from her Marine husband's funeral, prompting a response from the photographer.

Some Ukrainian media outlets unethically displayed the funeral of a fallen soldier of the Armed Forces. In particular, they published photos of the warrior in a coffin or images of his wife visibly crying and mourning. Journalist Anastasia Fedchenko encountered such unethical photos and comments while burying her husband, Marine Andrei Kuzmenko. She discussed how the media should cover human tragedies in a written post on her Facebook page.

Fedchenko expressed that after her husband's death, a "hole the size of the universe" formed in her chest. Meanwhile, she wished to address the media and journalists who covered the farewell and funeral ceremony. Some outlets approached the coverage ethically, seeking permission for publication and capturing images from specific angles. However, other photos caused Anastasia pain.

"But some images and comments shared by many people caused me physical pain. For instance, the coffin. Inside it is a body. It doesn’t need to be shot in a way that prominently displays the face. For example, I am on my knees beside the coffin. Close-up—my face, twisted in pain, tear-streaked. What value does this photo hold?" — the woman wrote.

The article suggests that the aim of such photos is to capture an instant emotion and be the first to publish it. Naturalism and certain filters affect the viewers and provoke emotional responses. Additionally, specific captions caused separate pain for Anastasia. She cited an example from "BBC Ukraine": "This is what grief looks like." Fedchenko emphasized that no one who has not experienced grief has the right to write such words because they do not understand what it truly means.

"Those who have not gone through their own grief have no right to such captions, neither as individuals nor especially as specialists. Because you. Do. Not. Know. What. Grief. Is," — wrote Anastasia.

The widow of the fallen marine noted that reporters arrived at the funeral, took emotional photos, and quickly left to garner "likes" for their publications. Meanwhile, they showed no interest in what kind of person and fighter Andrei Kuzmenko was. She speculated that for the sake of "likes," media outlets would be willing to capture close-ups of injuries, even removing clothing from the deceased. To understand how to properly take photos at a funeral, the woman suggested imagining oneself in the place of the relatives or even the deceased, and considering whether what they plan to do is appropriate.

"Grieving deserves to be told about, but it should be done gently and ethically. Just for a moment, imagine instead of my Andrei's face your own, and instead of mine—the face of your dearest person: mother, wife, sister, perhaps husband or firstborn, and first and foremost, give yourself an honest answer to the question: 'Would I want to be photographed like this?' If the answer is negative, take the photos differently. If positive, you might benefit from learning about compassion," — wrote Anastasia Fedchenko.

Anastasia Fedchenko on Funeral Photos — What Was the Reaction

In response to Fedchenko's post, photographer Yan Dobronosov commented. He stated that he was the author of the photographs that Anastasia referred to. The man expressed his condolences to the widow of the fallen soldier and apologized for the photo that the woman used to illustrate her message. According to him, he did not intend to offend anyone and did not take the photo "for the hype." His main goal was "to preserve memory and show the reality we live in," Dobronosov wrote.

In response to Yan's reaction, Anastasia thanked him for his reply and expressed hope that the situation "would serve as a lesson for all colleagues and make the coverage of farewells more humane." Meanwhile, other commenters described the photographer as brilliant, while others noted that it is important to seek permission before publishing certain photographs.

The photograph that Fedchenko used to illustrate her appeal to the media was published on the Instagram page of "BBC Ukraine." In a post that appeared on January 11, there are eight photos capturing the farewell ceremony for Andrei Kuzmenko from nearly every possible angle. There are close-up images showing the grief-stricken wife. There is a photo of the fallen soldier in the coffin, taken from above with all the details. The Facebook page, other social networks, and the publication’s portal did not comment on the widow's appeal.

It is worth noting that Andrei Fedchenko, a marine, died on January 4 in the Donetsk region, as reported by "Suspilne." The marine's wife is journalist Anastasia Fedchenko, who is expecting a child.

We remind you that on January 14, the Chertkov city administration reported the death of the president of the football club "Podillya," Mikhail Koval. Meanwhile, the TCN portal reported the circumstances of the death of soldier Dmitry Maslovsky, who engaged in hand-to-hand combat with a Russian soldier.