This week's global photojournalism captures a world in flux: wildfires scorch Europe, Russian strikes devastate Kyiv, a landmark trial unfolds in California, and a young Gazan finds solace in swimming. The images offer a stark visual record of conflict, resilience, and the natural world's extremes.
War's Toll: Kyiv Under Fire and Russia's Fuel Crisis
In Kyiv, Ukraine, smoke rises over the city following a Russian drone strike. A heavy Russian missile and drone bombardment killed at least 16 people in and around the capital, marking one of the most intense aerial attacks on Ukraine's capital since the war began, as captured by photographer Oleksandr Ratushniak for Reuters.
The assault also left charred books at the country's largest book market after a missile-caused fire. The Ukrainian Book Institute has appealed to the international publishing community for support, as Russian attacks in July and early August destroyed approximately 10 million books and a significant share of the nation's book production capacity, according to a photo by Efrem Lukatsky for AP.
Amid ongoing air raid alerts, civilians took shelter and slept in a subway station. Russia and Ukraine have escalated long-range attacks, with Ukraine striking oil refineries and warehouses near Moscow using newly developed cruise missiles and drones, while Russia has intensified its assaults on Kyiv, heavily employing ballistic missiles, as documented by Kostiantyn Liberov for Libkos/Getty Images.
Ripple Effects: Fuel Shortages and Drone Attacks in Russia
The impact of Ukraine's strikes extended into Russia itself. In Moscow, drivers lined up at a Lukoil petrol station, as many others ran out of fuel. Moscow confirmed this week that it was importing refined petroleum products to stabilize supply following Ukraine's attacks on its refineries. Reuters, using industry contacts and market data, established that a tanker from India had recently unloaded, with additional supplies sourced from east Asia, as shown in a Getty Images photo.
Near Moscow, in Podolsk, a helicopter dropped water during a fire at Wildberries' logistics complex. Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks since the war's start, igniting a fire at a distribution warehouse and killing at least six people overnight, according to Russian authorities, per a photo by Tatyana Makeyeva for AFP/Getty Images.
Gaza's Struggle and a Landmark Meta Trial
In Gaza, Palestinians removed iron from rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes to repair and recycle it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and envoy, that no progress on the stalled Gaza ceasefire deal or an Israeli withdrawal is possible until Hamas disarms, as captured by Jehad Alshrafi for AP.
In Khan Younis, Gaza, 16-year-old Rimas Abu Shalouf, who lost both legs after being injured during the Israeli offensive, received swimming training from the Heal Palestine organization. Gaza's health ministry reports that Israel has killed more than 1,200 Palestinians and wounded over 4,100 since the ceasefire on 10 October 2025, according to a photo by Abdel Kareem Hana for AP.
In Oakland, California, protesters and campaigners gathered for the federal trial against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, at the district court. A whistleblower testified during the landmark trial that Meta has adopted a 'don't ask, don't tell' strategy regarding child safety on its platforms, as documented by Kanoa Shim-Ly for EPA.
Global Vigils, Earthquakes, and Celebrations
In London, England, attendees held flowers and placards during a vigil for former Cambridge professor Jason Arday in Trafalgar Square, after he was found dead at his home in south London. Arday's family stated: 'Jason was subjected to a campaign of sustained abuse for more than three years since he accepted the role of professor at Cambridge University by those who would leave no stone unturned in their quest to undermine him. The campaign of misinformation was too much for Jason, who was a gentle man and always wanted to see the best in everyone,' as shown in a photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images.
In London, a homeless man was seen on a central street. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has urged local leaders to offer all rough sleepers in England a route off the streets by Christmas, pledging an additional £100m to end street homelessness, per a photo by Kin Cheung for AP.
In Quibdó, Colombia, buildings lay destroyed after last week's earthquake in the Medrano neighbourhood, as captured by Esteban Vega La-Rotta for AFP/Getty Images. In Ruteng, Indonesia, children observed damage at St Fransiskus Asisi-Karot church after an earthquake. Rescue crews searched collapsed buildings and landslide debris in eastern Indonesia for bodies and survivors after a powerful quake killed at least 53 people, injured more than 100, and displaced thousands, according to a photo by Willy Kurniawan for Reuters.
In Salamina, Greece, a firefighter walked toward a house engulfed in flames during a wildfire. A study projects that wildfires will burn 39% more of Europe by the end of the century even in a best-case climate scenario, unless better management actions are taken, as shown in a photo by Michael Varaklas for AP. In Waimes, Belgium, firefighters worked in a forest affected by a wildfire, per a photo by Yves Herman for Reuters.
In Kandahar, Afghanistan, a woman filmed celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the Taliban government's return to power. The United Nations described a recent 'cascade of [Taliban] edicts and laws' that have banned women from universities and most employment, denied teenage girls education, and imposed strict dress codes, as captured by Sanaullah Seiam for AFP/Getty Images. In Kabul, a boy held an AK-style rifle during celebrations of the fifth anniversary of the US withdrawal. Five years after the Taliban took power, an increasing number of countries are renewing ties or scaling up diplomatic contacts with the hardline Islamists, who seized power in 2021 after 20 years of insurgent warfare, according to a photo by Nava Jamshidi for AP.
In Iga-Barrière, Democratic Republic of the Congo, people searched for gold at a mining site, as documented by Dieudonne Dirole for AP. At Lake Tuz, Turkey, visitors waded in vibrant pink shallows, a colour believed to be caused by increased salinity, high temperatures, and microalgae producing betacarotene as a protective shield, per a photo by Ismail Aslandag for Anadolu/Getty Images.
In Yaounde, Cameroon, a Cameroon player kissed a boy on the forehead during a parade after the Indomitable Lionesses became only the fourth country to win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon had not reached a Wafcon final in a decade and had never scored a final goal, but had three before half-time against Malawi, as shown in a photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo for AFP/Getty Images. In Budapest, Hungary, a member of Team Russia performed a somersault during the World Aquatics Junior Artistic Swimming Championships final, per a photo by Xinhua/Shutterstock.
