Ukraine: a prayer for Odesa

Photos by Marc Roussel

“Here is my reporting trip to Odesa. I told you it was coming; here it is. No ideology, just the facts. No interpretations, just what was seen on the ground. I don’t claim to know everything; but, what I know, I say; and what I say, I am sure of it. One fact: the Ukrainian people, whose identity and existence Putin denied, resist with admirable energy. They transformed Odesa into a fortress. And, as with the anti-fascists of Spain in 1936, they say to the new fascist invaders: No Pasaran!”

Bernard-Henri Lévy

Bernard-Henri Levy In the deserted streets of Odessa. The city is waiting for the assault. By his side, Governor Maksym Marchenko. — In the deserted streets of Odessa. The city is waiting for the assault. By my side, Governor Maksym Marchenko. ©Marc Roussel

In the catacombs of the Odessa. BHL is With a student whose university is closed. He is making, by assembly line, Molotov cocktails. He was studying history. Now, he’s making it. — In the catacombs of the city. With a student whose university is closed. He is making, by assembly line, Molotov cocktails. He was studying history. Now, he’s making it.

Bernard-Henri Levy on the barricade of Odessa. The motto of the French Republic in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. — On the barricade of Odessa. The motto of the French Republic in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. It is a tiny gesture. But for my friends on this day, it was symbol of true brotherhood. ©Marc Roussel

Bernard-Henri Levy in the ruins of the bombed city of Odessa. — Bombings have commenced in Odessa. Here, the industrial zone of the city. This spot, on a hectare of land, had no military objective. ©Marc Roussel

BHL in front of a memorial of Holocaust in Odessa. — This old man is the caretaker of the dead of the Holocaust. This memorial, in the heart of Odessa, pays homage to the victims, but also to the Righteous among the Nations. Do people know that Ukraine is one of the four countries in the world which is proud to have had the largest number of men who, between 1941 and 1944, housed and saved Jews? ©Marc Roussel

Bernard-Henri Levy in a bomb shelter in Odessa — It is night. The sirens begin to ring out. This shelter, in the basement of the house where I am staying, is withstanding the bombs. ©Marc Roussel

Behind BHL, a military professional. In front of him, a volunteer from the Territorial Defense. As well as the patriotic resistance and armies of citizens. All united against the invader. — Behind me, a military professional. In front of me, a volunteer from the Territorial Defense. As well as the patriotic resistance and armies of citizens. All united against the invader.

BHL On the road from Mykolaiv. — On the road from Mykolaiv. These men, and others, will stop the Russians. At this moment, I have a conviction: Putin has lost. ©Marc Roussel

Bernard-Henri Levy with a soldier on the road to Mykolaiv. — This man, soldier on the front line, shows me how a NLAW works. This weapon stops the tanks. What else to do, faced with the savagery of this aggression? When making war without loving it, how could we not give to Ukraine all the means in order to win? ©Marc Roussel

BHL with an officier on the road to Mykolaiv. — For this officer, there is no doubt of victory. He knows that the moral of his army counts more than their numbers. ©Marc Roussel

BHL return to the Moldovan border. — I return to the Moldovan border. These refugees have lost everything. Their lives are shattered.©Marc Roussel