When Belgian travel journalist Tom Waes stepped onto Ukrainian soil this week, he carried more than just a camera and notebook—he carried the weight of seven years absent from a country that had once been his muse. The war that began in 2022 had transformed Ukraine into a landscape of shattered dreams, where the faces of ordinary citizens now bore the silent stories of survival. Waes, known globally for his immersive travel documentaries and compassionate storytelling, returned not as a tourist, but as a witness to a nation’s unyielding spirit.

His latest project, Reizen Waes, has become a poignant chronicle of Ukraine’s resilience, capturing the voices of those who refuse to be defined by conflict. “For the first time, I saw hope vanish from their eyes,” Waes told a Dutch broadcaster during an interview conducted in Kyiv’s heavily fortified center. The statement, though emotional, underscores a stark reality: the war’s psychological toll on civilians extends far beyond physical destruction. Waes’s journey—one that began with lighthearted travelogues and evolved into a mission of bearing witness—highlights how journalism can both reflect and amplify the human cost of war.

What makes Waes’s return particularly compelling is his ability to bridge the gap between global audiences and local experiences. Unlike traditional war correspondents who often focus on military strategy or political narratives, Waes centers his work on the stories of everyday Ukrainians: the mother who lost her home but not her hope, the farmer whose fields now lie in ruins, the child who draws pictures of a future that feels increasingly uncertain. His approach is not one of sensationalism, but of quiet dignity—a reminder that behind every headline, there are lives being lived, dreams being shattered, and spirits being tested.

The Weight of Return: A Journalist’s Emotional Reckoning

Waes’s decision to return to Ukraine was not made lightly. In interviews, he has described the internal struggle of confronting a country he once loved as a travel destination, now reduced to a battleground. “I have never cried so much,” he admitted in a recent appearance on Belgian television, his voice trembling. “The war has taken everything from them—homes, security, even the simple joy of a walk in the park. But it has not taken their humanity.”

His emotional response is shared by many who have witnessed Ukraine’s transformation. The country, once a vibrant hub of culture and history, now faces a humanitarian crisis that has displaced millions and left cities like Mariupol and Kharkiv as symbols of resilience. Waes’s footage, shared across European media outlets, shows not just the devastation, but the quiet acts of defiance: children playing in bomb shelters, elderly women knitting in makeshift shelters, and volunteers distributing aid with stoic determination.

What sets Waes apart is his refusal to romanticize suffering. Unlike some conflict journalists who focus solely on tragedy, Waes balances his reporting with moments of hope. In one segment, he interviews a young Ukrainian soldier who, despite the horrors of war, still finds time to teach English to children in a nearby village. “They are not victims,” Waes says in voiceover. “They are survivors. And survival, in their eyes, is an act of defiance.”

Documenting the Invisible: The Human Cost Beyond the Headlines

One of the most striking aspects of Waes’s work is his ability to capture the invisible costs of war—the psychological scars that do not appear in photographs of destroyed buildings. In a recent documentary excerpt, he sits with a group of Ukrainian women in a Kyiv café, their laughter forced but genuine. “They tell me they are fine,” Waes narrates. “But I see the way their hands tremble when they lift their tea cups. I hear the silence in their voices when they speak of the future.”

This attention to detail is what makes Reizen Waes more than just a travelogue or a war documentary. It is a testament to the power of human connection in journalism. By focusing on the stories of ordinary people, Waes forces viewers to see Ukraine not as a distant conflict, but as a place where real lives are being lived—and lost—every day. His work serves as a counterbalance to the often sanitized narratives of war that dominate mainstream media.

For Waes, this journey is also personal. Having spent years documenting Ukraine’s beauty before the war, he now grapples with the guilt of having left when others could not. “I was here for the beauty,” he reflects. “Now I am here for the truth. And the truth is far more complicated than I ever imagined.”

Ukraine’s Resilience: A Nation That Refuses to Break

Despite the overwhelming challenges, Waes’s reporting reveals a Ukraine that is far from broken. In one powerful sequence, he visits a school in Lviv that has become a refuge for children displaced from the front lines. The children, though traumatized, sing songs and draw pictures of their dreams. “They are not just surviving,” Waes observes. “They are still children. And children, no matter where they are, deserve to dream.”

This resilience is echoed in the stories of Ukrainian farmers who, despite losing crops to artillery fire, continue to till the soil. Waes interviews one such farmer, whose fields are now pockmarked with craters. “We will rebuild,” the farmer tells him, his voice steady. “Because what else is there to do?” The simplicity of his response underscores the stoicism of a people who have faced unimaginable hardship but refuse to surrender to despair.

Waes’s work also sheds light on the role of international aid, and solidarity. He documents the efforts of volunteers from Poland, Germany, and the United States who have come to Ukraine to provide medical supplies, food, and emotional support. One scene shows a group of German paramedics setting up a field hospital in a repurposed school. “They are not just saving lives,” Waes narrates. “They are giving these people a reason to believe in tomorrow.”

What Comes Next: The Road Ahead for Waes and Ukraine

As Waes continues his journey through Ukraine, his next steps remain focused on amplifying the voices of those who are often overlooked in global narratives. He has expressed a desire to expand Reizen Waes into a broader platform, potentially a book or a series of documentaries, to give more Ukrainians a chance to share their stories with the world.

For Ukraine, the road ahead is uncertain. The war shows no signs of slowing, and the humanitarian needs remain staggering. However, Waes’s reporting offers a glimpse of hope—a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the human spirit can find ways to endure. His work challenges viewers to look beyond the headlines and see the faces, the dreams, and the unbreakable will of a nation fighting for its future.

In the words of Waes himself: “Ukraine is not just a story of war. It is a story of people. And people, no matter how hard life may be, always find a way to keep living.”

Where to Follow Tom Waes’s Journey

For those interested in following Tom Waes’s ongoing work in Ukraine, he can be reached through his official channels:

• Twitter/X for real-time updates and behind-the-scenes content.
• Instagram for visual storytelling and direct engagement with his audience.
• His documentary series Reizen Waes is available on Dutch and Belgian broadcasters, including VRT and HLN.

Waes’s next confirmed appearance is scheduled for June 1, 2026, where he will discuss his findings at the Eye for Transport conference in Brussels, focusing on the humanitarian aspects of conflict zones.