WARNING: PHOTO BELOW IS GRAPHIC
We’ve seen plenty of powerful photos emerge from the violence in Ukraine over the last three months. But few have documented the violence’s aftermath with such raw emotion as this one.
The image, taken by photographer Vlad Sodel after clashes on Feb. 18 in central Kiev, captures the exact moment two blood-stained protesters look into the eyes of a riot policeman. The protesters, identified by Sodel as a father and his son , wear a pained expression of defiant disbelief. They appear bewildered and broken, yet somehow undeterred.
The older of the two is believed to be
Mykola Kuznetsov , a PhD-holding computer scientist at Ukraine’s V.M. Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics.
Kuznetsov did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Huffington Post, leaving the exact circumstances of the photo open to speculation. It isn’t clear how the two were injured, or what roles, if any, they’ve played the protests.
A (graphic) video from the scene, however, shows the duo approaching a medical station. In the video, translated from Ukranian by The Huffington Post, an unnamed cameraman tells the two, “You should go to the hospital.” The father then indicates their injuries are not serious. He later asks, “Where can I wash my face? Simply wash my face.”
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE UKRAINE PROTESTS AFTER STORY
The picture, which The Daily Dot labeled “the most powerful protest photo of the year ,” has gone viral and unleashed a wave of responses across social media.
“I can’t stop returning to this image from #Kiev. … What words were exchanged? ” Vaughn Wallace, deputy photo editor for Al Jazeera America, pondered on Twitter.
The photo has also been shared more than 3,500 times on Sodel’s Facebook page .
Anti-government protesters gather Independence Square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters gather Independence Square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Interior Ministry police who have joined anti-government protesters stand near front-line barricades near Independence Square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters are reflected in a puddle as they attend a rally on Independence square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev. (Photo Credit: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters gather Independence Square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Police troops leave their position around Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 21, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Police troops leave their position around Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 21, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Police troops leave their position around the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 21, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters attend a rally on Independence square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev. (Photo Credit: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters attend a rally on Independence square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev. (Photo Credit: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters attend a rally on Independence square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev. (Photo Credit: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters chant slogans on Independence square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev. (Photo Credit: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters chant slogans on Independence square on February 21, 2014 in Kiev. (Photo Credit: BULENT KILIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Red flowers are placed at the spot where an anti-Government protestor was shot by a sniper near to Independence square, on February 21, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Opposition demonstrators stand among smoke of burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: PIERO QUARANTA/AFP/Getty Images)
Opposition demonstrators stand on a barricade during clashes with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: PIERO QUARANTA/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government demonstrators clash with riot police in central Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SANDRO MADDALENA/AFP/Getty Images)
An opposition demonstrator holds a Molotov cocktail during clashes with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: PIERO QUARANTA/AFP/Getty Images)
A photo taken on February 18, 2014 shows a riot police whose helmet is burning, shielding himself during clashes with anti-government protesters in central Kiev. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Opposition demonstrators stand in front of burning barricades during clashes with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: PIERO QUARANTA/AFP/Getty Images)
A anti-government protester clashes with riot police in central Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Protesters clash with anti-government protesters in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in in the center of Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
A wounded anti-government protester is pictured during clashes with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Red Cross workers give first aid to policemen wounded during clashes with anti-government protester in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in in the center of Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in the center of Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government demonstrators clash with riot police in central Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SANDRO MADDALENA/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014.(Photo Credit: ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANDREW KRAVCHENKO/AFP/Getty Images)
A policeman checks his rifle during clashes with anti-government protesters in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)
A policeman aims during clash with anti-government protesters in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with riot police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANDREW KRAVCHENKO/AFP/Getty Images)
Police throw back stones during clashes with anti-government protesters in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Policemen try to avoid flames from molotov cocktails during clashes with anti-government protesters in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP/Getty Images)
A young anti-government protester takes part in clash with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: ANDREW KRAVCHENKO/AFP/Getty Images)
Policemen carry a colleague wounded during clashes with anti-government protesters in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: YURY KIRNICHNY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: YURY KIRNICHNY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in the center of Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters and Red Cross workers carry a wounded demonstrator during clashes with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters shield themselves during clashes with riot police in front of the Parliament in central Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
An anti-government protester prepares to throw a brick during clashes with riot police in front of the Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters shield themselves during clashes with riot police in central Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Anti-government protesters clash with police in front of the Ukrainian Parliament in Kiev on February 18, 2014. (Photo Credit: SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/Getty Images)
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