LocationsUkraine: Tip of the Spear
‘Taming the dust of war’
In the colossal iron ore quarries of Kryvyi Rih, a big industrial city in war-hit Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, explosions are the daily heartbeat. But each quarry blast leaves a toxic legacy – heavy clouds of gas and dust that choke the air.
When the war reduced industry to 30% capacity, and thousands of people fled, Vadym Shchokin (in centre of photograph) and his team of 33 scientists dug in. They work in an unheated laboratory during blackouts, huddled in winter coats to develop reagents that “absorb” the dust of war.
“Scientists have discovery in their blood,” Vadym says. “There is a special pride in knowing your work helps your people breathe easier in a time of darkness.”
“I don’t see myself anywhere else,” he adds. “I was born here, and I’m useful here. My place is here, working for Ukraine.”
Vadym Shchokin
Kryvyi Rih, November 2025
