Moscow: The 11th Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest awarded its Grand Prix to Yekaterina Yakel, a photography artist from Moscow. The award ceremony took place at the State Historical Museum on Moscow’s Red Square, where the international jury was unanimous in its decision to recognize her series of photos titled “Russian Spirit: An Obstacle Course” by awarding it the contest’s highest prize. This series tells the story of wounded combat veterans who, despite their injuries and trauma, continue to demonstrate courage, resilience, and inner strength in their civilian lives.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the series was shot during the Challenge for the Champion recovery school at the Orto-Sport Adaptive Sports Center. Yakel’s work was submitted as part of the Portrait. A Hero of Our Time category. Apart from the Grand Prix, the ceremony also included the announcement of all winners across all categories of the 2025 shortlist.
In the Top News category, Indonesia’s Reza Saifullah won first place with his single image “Rohingya Capsized Boat,” capturing Rohingya refugees awaiting rescue after their boat capsized in West Aceh, Indonesia. Abdelrahman Alkahlout from Palestine took first place in the same category with his series “Gaza: Echoes of Genocide,” documenting the ongoing tragedy in Palestine.
S.M. Al Muztaba Rosul from Bangladesh received the top prize in the Sports single-image category for “The Last Race: Fall of a Champion,” depicting a racehorse that fell dead after a race. The My Planet category became the contest’s most popular, with China’s Mengdan Zhutook taking first place for “Fruit Trees Growing in Tents,” portraying Chinese farmers protecting plum trees from extreme weather.
In the My Planet series category, Bahrain’s Mustafa AbdulHadi won the top award for his series capturing scenes from the annual Shia mourning procession in Karbala, Iraq. Photojournalists from Myanmar and Russia emerged as winners in the Portrait. A Hero of Our Time category, with Myanmar’s Nyein Nyein Htwe’s image “Fishing Family” and Russian reporter Pelagia Tikhonova’s series “The Whisper in the Silence” being recognized.
The Top View single-photo category saw Anselmo Cunha dos Santos from Brazil win with “Aircraft on the Tarmac of a Flooded Airport,” an image capturing a plane in Rio Grande do Sul. The jury awarded prizes to various contenders in other categories, celebrating the diverse talent and compelling narratives showcased in this year’s competition.