Svitlana Onipko is a photographer and a classical dancer with the Ukraine National Opera. She studied for 9 years in the Kiev Choreography School before being accepted in the National Opera, with which she has danced in countries such as Germany, Italy, France, Greece, Japan, and Taiwan. In 2018, inspired by her travels, she began her career as a portrait photographer shooting solely on film.

Following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, Ms. Onipko collaborated with Ecuadorian photographer and artist Felipe Jácome on Unbroken: Ukraine’s Ballerinas, a collection of portraits of Ukrainian dancers transferred onto bullet casings. The project emphasizes the juxtaposition of the strength and grace of the ballerinas and the brutality and destruction of the bullets. All proceeds from the sale of the photographs are being donated to relief and recovery efforts in Ukraine.

Ms. Onipko left her home country after the outbreak of the war. She has since gone on tour in Japan and the United States as part of the Ukraine Ballet Benefit, which allows audiences to experience Ukraine’s culture through its national artists, for whom dancing has now become a peaceful way to protest the invasion of their country. The Ukraine Ballet Benefit has raised over $800k to support those impacted by the war.