The top AP photos from Ukraine in 2025 show its grief and grit in another year of war

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Associated Press’ most powerful images from Ukraine in 2025 show a nation defined by both unending violence and determined survival.

Captured in cities, villages, front lines and shelters, the images document a year of turbulence — death-filled front lines, diplomatic uncertainty and the relentless pounding of the country’s infrastructure.

Photographers witnessed profound loss: two mothers weeping over the coffins of their 15-year-old children. Survivors, dazed and dust-covered, led away from residential buildings torn open by airstrikes, their faces marked by shock, grief and exhaustion.

Young residents — one in black platform heels — step through the rubble-strewn remains of a gutted housing block and across a children’s playground, its slide and climbing frame improbably left intact.

On front lines and training grounds, soldiers bear the weight of a grinding war. A veteran missing both arms and a leg grips a rifle with prosthetics, his gaze unwavering in drills. In a freezing trench, soldiers rest among gear bags and equipment, scrolling through news on their phones.

Sacrifice was matched by defiance: The images reveal a landscape where mourning and persistence coexist.

Ukraine struck deeper into Russia and held back waves of attacks. Children studied in underground shelters and ordinary Ukrainians made the most of rare breaks from the war. Women in embroidered dresses dance in midsummer sunlight. Young people crowded into a Halloween party.

And in a moment of unguarded joy, a woman clutches a returning soldier in a flag-draped embrace following a prisoner exchange, in a crowd of women holding up photos of their loved ones.

Photo editing by Benjamin Snyder and Enric Marti.

A Ukrainian serviceman with the Safari Unit of the Liut Brigade launches a reconnaissance drone at the frontline in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Vasilisa Stepanenko, File)

Mykhailo Maistruk, 67, walks downstairs during an evacuation from Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Cadets listen to their teacher as they sit in a bomb shelter on the first day at school at a cadet lyceum in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sept. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

A woman in costume attends a Halloween rave in Kyiv, Ukraine, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Red Cross volunteers evacuate an injured person from a multi-storey residential house destroyed by a Russian strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Mourners say their last goodbyes to 12 Ukrainian soldiers who died in Russian captivity during a funeral ceremony in central Lviv, Ukraine, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mykola Tys, File)

Ukrainian war veteran Pavlo Tovstyk rests during a training for a 6.5km swimming race across the Bosporus Strait, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

A girl touches the water at Lanzheron beach in Odesa, Ukraine, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Police officers calm an injured dog while a dead body lies near a multi-story building damaged by a Russian strike on a residential neighborhood in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko, File)

Sofia Sisa, 17, does homework in an underground shelter during an air raid alarm in Shostka, Ukraine, Oct. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Ukrainian soldier Denys Zalizko, 21, stands outside of a rehabilitation center in Kyiv region, Ukraine, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

An elderly woman leaves her damaged home after a missile attack in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko, File)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to journalists during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

A woman hugs a soldier who came back from Russian captivity while people show photos of missing soldiers during an exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, in Chernyhiv region, Ukraine, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

Artem aka "Lisnyk", a Ukrainian soldier of the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion who was injured during fighting with Russian forces at the front line smokes a cigarette on Pokrovsk direction, Ukraine, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

A woman cries during a funeral ceremony for Tamara Martyniuk, 8, Stanislav Martyniuk, 12, and Roman Martyniuk, 17, killed in a Russian strike in Korostyshiv, Zhytomyr region, Ukraine, May 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Police officers help an injured woman leave her house, which was damaged by a Russian airstrike in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Ukrainian soldiers of the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion train not far from the frontline on Pokrovsk direction, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Cadets greet each other at the Lanzheron beach in Odesa, Ukraine, March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Andrii Rubliuk, a senior sergeant with a Ukrainian intelligence unit who lost both arms and a leg in combat, holds a rifle during military training near Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Funeral workers carry the coffin of Olena Kohut, an orchestra musician who was killed in a deadly Palm Sunday Russian attack on Sumy on April 13, during a farewell ceremony in Sumy, Ukraine, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Residents react after a Russian missile hit an apartment building during Russia's combined missile and drone air attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential house destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Kateryna Klochko, File)

A dead body lies on the ground after a Russian missile strike in Sumy, Ukraine, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Volodymyr Hordiienko, File)

Ukrainian servicemen of the 148th artillery brigade rest in a trench after firing towards Russian positions at the frontline's Velyka Novosilka direction, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Local people react after a residential building was destroyed by a Russian air strike in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Yevhen Titov, File)

Young women dressed in traditional Ukrainian clothing dance in circle during a traditional midsummer celebration in Pyrohiv, Ukraine, outside of Kyiv, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

Servicemen carry a portrait of volunteer soldier Volodymyr Rakov, 30, a well known dancer and choreographer, who was killed during the Russia Ukraine war, during the farewell ceremony at St.Michael Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

Residents pass by the site of a Russian air strike which destroyed a residential house in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, July 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Yevhen Titov, File)

Mothers cry over the coffins of their children Danylo Nikittskyi, 15, and Alina Kutsenko, 15, killed by a Russian missile, during a funeral ceremony in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 8, 2025--

Vertical Aerospace (“Vertical” or “Company”) [NYSE:EVTL], a global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering electric aviation, and Syensqo, a global leader in advanced materials, today announced a new long-term supplier partnership.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251208130504/en/

Syensqo’s high-performance composite and adhesive materials - already used in Vertical’s prototype programme - have been selected for the VX4 aircraft, which is targeting certification in 2028 before entering into commercial service. This comes after multiple years of close collaboration between the teams at Syensqo and Vertical.

Syensqo’s advanced materials will be integrated across the entire structure, providing the lightweight strength, structural efficiency and durability required for the high-cycle operations of electric vertical flight. Securing advanced composite materials is critical in ensuring the VX4 can withstand repeated take-offs and landings while maintaining safety and performance at scale.

The VX4’s airframe itself will be manufactured by Aciturri, a leading global aerostructures supplier, supporting Vertical’s transition into full commercial production.

Syensqo brings extensive aerospace experience, supplying advanced materials to many of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturers and defence companies. This experience makes Syensqo an ideal partner as Vertical advances toward both civil and defence applications of its aircraft platform.

Stuart Simpson, CEO, Vertical Aerospace, said: “We are bringing the VX4 to market alongside leading global partners, and deepening our successful partnership with Syensqo as our advanced-materials supplier is a vital step in that journey. Their decades of expertise in lightweight, high-performance composites - combined with our shared commitment to safety and certification - will help us deliver a resilient, agile aircraft as we progress toward commercial operations.”

Rodrigo Elizondo, President Syensqo Composite Materials, said: “We are honored to deepen our collaboration with Vertical. Our advanced composite and adhesive technologies are designed to push the boundaries of lightweighting and performance, supporting the VX4’s journey toward safer, cleaner and more efficient air mobility. As Vertical moves into certification and industrialisation, we look forward to bringing our scientific expertise and strong customer partnership to support the VX4’s successful entry into full-scale production."

This extension of Vertical’s partnership with Syensqo comes as Vertical continues to formalise the core supply chain for its certification aircraft, alongside Honeywell, Aciturri, and other global partners.

Vertical plans to unveil its new aircraft design on 10 December in London, showcasing the VX4’s industry-leading design, passenger and luggage capacity, and global certification-ready architecture.

About Vertical Aerospace

Vertical Aerospace is a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation. Vertical is creating a safer, cleaner, and quieter way to travel. Its VX4 is a piloted, four-passenger, Electric Vertical Take Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft, with zero operating emissions. Vertical is also developing a hybrid-electric variant, offering increased range and mission flexibility to meet the evolving needs of the advanced air mobility market.

Vertical combines partnerships with leading aerospace companies, including GKN, Honeywell, and Aciturri, with its own proprietary battery and propeller technology to develop the world’s most advanced and safest eVTOL.

Vertical has c.1,500 pre-orders of the VX4, with customers across four continents, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, GOL, and Bristow. Certain customer obligations are expected to be fulfilled via third-party agreements. Headquartered in Bristol, UK, Vertical’s experienced leadership team comes from top-tier aerospace and automotive companies such as Rolls-Royce, Airbus, GM, and Leonardo. Together, they have previously certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems.

About Syensqo

Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates in 30 countries.

Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and healthcare applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.

Learn more at www.syensqo.com.

Follow us on LinkedIn @Syensqo | Follow us on Instagram @Syensqo

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any express or implied statements contained in this press release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding a partnership with Syensqo for advanced composites and adhesive materials, including Syensqo’s supply and obligations under the partnership agreement, the efficiencies, reliability and expertise expected, the design and manufacture of the VX4 and the hybrid-electric variant, certification and the commercialization of the VX4 and our ability to achieve regulatory certification of our aircraft product on any particular timeline or at all, the features and capabilities of the VX4, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, including the building and testing of our prototype aircrafts on timelines projected, completion of the piloted test programme phases, selection of suppliers, as well as statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “forecast,” “estimate,” “may,” “should,” “anticipate,” “will,” “aim,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are not a guarantee of future performance. Actual outcomes may differ materially from the information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including, without limitation, the important factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 11, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof and accordingly undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than to the extent required by applicable law.

Vertical's full-scale VX4 prototype during piloted flight testing