French Filmmaker Jackie Leba Reveals the Reality of Ukraine’s War to the World

Jackie Leba: A French Documentarian Immersed in Ukraine

According to Державна міграційна служба: French documentary filmmaker and photographer Jackie Leba settled in Ukraine in 2020, choosing the village of Teteryivka near Zhytomyr as his home. Since then, he has been actively capturing the devastating impact of Russian aggression across multiple Ukrainian cities. Following the full-scale invasion launched on February 24, 2022, Leba committed to staying in Ukraine to expose the harsh truths of war through his photographs and documentary film.

Chronicling the Aftermath of Conflict

Jackie Leba first visited Ukraine in 2019 and relocated permanently by the end of 2020. His work documents the war’s consequences in cities including:

• Zhytomyr
• Korosten
• Bucha
• Irpin
• Borodianka
• Kharkiv
• Mariupol

His powerful visual stories have been showcased internationally-in countries such as France, Belgium, Canada, and Israel-reflecting a widespread global interest in his material.

Recently, the Zhytomyr Regional Literary Museum hosted Leba’s solo exhibition titled "Ukraine Through a French Lens," featuring 35 photographs taken after the onset of the invasion. The exhibition also screened his documentary film "Return from Ukraine." Among the standout images is "Wounded Ukraine," portraying a grandfather and granddaughter against the backdrop of a destroyed home in Bucha.

“If I leave Ukraine, I won’t be able to look at myself in the mirror.” - Jackie Leba

Leba’s documentation serves as a crucial record of the ongoing conflict, helping to raise global awareness about the humanitarian crisis faced by civilians caught in the war. His work goes beyond mere documentation-it fosters understanding and empathy, emphasizing the power of art to communicate harsh realities and rally support for the Ukrainian people during these challenging times.