This photographer spent two years documenting life for the women forced to leave Ukraine

Within hours of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Ukraine’s President invoked martial law across the country and signed a decree to mobilize conscripts. Eligible men aged 18-60 were not allowed to leave Ukraine, resulting in mostly women and young children fleeing the country. British photographer Polly Braden, inspired by the women leaving Ukraine, traveled to Moldova to document their experiences. The resulting exhibition, ‘Leaving Ukraine,’ showcases the stories of six women and their families as they navigate new lives in countries like Italy, Poland, and the UK. Moldova has received over 850,000 Ukrainian refugees and over 120,000 third country nationals since February 2022. The project aims to shed light on the challenges faced by these individuals as they start afresh in unfamiliar territories.