Irpin was visited by Sebastian Junger, the American writer, documentary journalist and war correspondent. He was shown the places in the community whose images went round the world in early 2022.

The visit was reported by Irpin acting mayor and council secretary Anzhela Makeieva.

Council secretary Anzhela Makeieva met the writer in Irpin. Photo: Irpin City Council
Council secretary Anzhela Makeieva met the writer in Irpin. Photo: Irpin City Council

Junger is the author of the bestsellers The Perfect Storm and Tribe, and an Oscar nominee for the documentary Restrepo, filmed on the Afghan front line.

He is currently in Ukraine at the invitation of first lady Olena Zelenska, having come to take part in official events. It was the journalist himself who asked to visit the Kyiv region, and Irpin in particular.

"I have said many times that this is the most documented war the world has seen. I showed Mr Sebastian Junger the places in our community that he and the whole world saw in early 2022," Anzhela Makeieva said.

The guest was shown the places whose images went round the world in early 2022. Photo: Irpin City Council
The guest was shown the places whose images went round the world in early 2022. Photo: Irpin City Council

In her words, it was the photographs from Irpin that showed the world what Russia really is. The pictures of the destroyed bridge and the columns of people leaving the town under fire became symbols of the start of the full-scale war.

"Thank you, Sebastian Junger, for your visit to Irpin and for your hard work. It is journalists who document all of Russia's crimes, it is you who show the truth and stop the Russian propaganda machine from winning," she added.

As a reminder, Bundestag member Frank Schwabe also came to Irpin.