**World Press Photo Contest Apologizes for Combining Photos of Pro-Russian Militant and Ukrainian Child**
The World Press Photo contest has apologized for combining photos of a wounded pro-Russian militant and a Ukrainian child suffering from panic attacks. The contest’s jury paired the two images, titled “Underground Field Hospital” and showing a 6-year-old girl named Angelina, on their website.
The photos were taken by German journalists Nanna Heitmann and Florian Bachmeier. The World Press Photo contest said that the combination of the two images was meant to show how they should be viewed and understood together, but this created a false equivalence between the soldier and the child.
**Ukrainian Officials Criticize Decision**
Ukrainian officials have criticized the decision, saying it’s a pathetic example of moral equivalence. The country’s Foreign Ministry said that pairing the two images was an attempt to create an overly simplistic and false equivalence.
**Photos Divided on World Press Photo Website**
After being asked about the issue by Detector Media, the contest’s jury responded by emphasizing the difference between the soldier and the child. They also promised to improve their rules and procedures for dealing with applications from photographers working for state institutions.
As of April 1, the photos have been divided on the World Press Photo website, with each image displayed separately.
**Other News**
* Ukraine’s elections could be held in July 2025, according to a report by The Economist.
* The US is increasing defense investment and security guarantees for NATO members, including Ukraine.
* Ukrainian air defenses shot down two Russian guided aerial missiles launched against Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
* Armenia has refused to pay its contributions to the budget of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for the past year.
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