Moscow: Russian photographer Ekaterina Yakl clinched the grand prize at the 11th edition of the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest, organized by the Russian news agency Sputnik. The winners were revealed during a ceremony at the State Historical Museum in Moscow's Red Square on November 18.
According to Union of OIC News Agencies, the international jury unanimously awarded Yakl's photographic series, "Russian Spirit: A Path Through Obstacles," the contest's top prize for its artistic and humanistic value. The series narrates the story of wounded veterans who have returned to civilian life, continuing to exhibit courage and resilience. Yakl noted that heroism extends beyond battlefields into daily life, emphasizing the role of sport in helping veterans regain confidence and purpose.
Yakl's series, filmed during the Challenge for a Hero program at the Orto-Sport Adaptive Sports Center, also competed in the Portrait: Hero of Our Time category. It pays homage to veterans who have defended their homeland and continue to advance in civilian life.
The ceremony additionally announced the 2025 shortlist winners in various categories. Indonesian Riza Saifullah secured first place in the Breaking News - Single Image category with "The Rohingya Boat Overturned," depicting Rohingya refugees awaiting rescue in West Aceh, Indonesia. Palestinian Abdulrahman Al-Kahlout won the Breaking News - Photo Series category for "Gaza: The Aftermath of Genocide," documenting the ongoing tragedy in Palestine.
Bangladeshi S.M. Almaztaba Rasool earned first place in the Sports - Single Image category with "The Last Race: The Fall of a Champion," showing a racehorse collapsing after a race. In the My Planet category, Chinese artist Mingdan Gu won for "Fruit Trees Inside Tents," capturing tents over plum trees in China.
The My Planet - Photo Series category saw Bahraini Mustafa Abdulhadi win first prize for his series on the annual Shiite mourning procession in Karbala, Iraq. Photojournalists from Myanmar and Russia were also recognized in the Portrait: Hero of Our Time category. Myanmar's Nine Nine Htwe's photograph, "The Fisherman's Family," portrays a man with his catch, while Russian journalist Pelageya Tikhonova's "Whispers in Silence" explores life in the Nikolo-Solbinsky Monastery.
In the Above Shot - Single Image category, Brazilian photographer Anselmo Cunha dos Santos received first prize for "Airplane on a flooded airport runway," taken in Rio Grande do Sul.