War through Images: Visual Communication of the War in Ukraine in Lithuanian Media

Two years ago, the world was shocked by the sudden war in Ukraine. This event quickly became the primary focus of global news, with media outlets rushing to cover the unfolding crisis. News media became society’s primary source of information, providing real-time updates on the war’s developments. Visuals played a central role in this coverage, not only in capturing the harsh realities but also in conveying emotional and human dimensions. Visual communication became a powerful tool in making the war feel more immediate and tangible to audiences, enhancing the impact of the presented information.

This presentation is based on the findings of a scientific study conducted in Lithuania. The objective of the research was to examine how the war in Ukraine is visually represented in the country’s most widely read online news media outlets and to identify the types of visual communication that have the greatest impact on audiences. The media content analysis demonstrated that the depiction of the war is centered on images of political leaders and the material damage caused by the conflict, such as infrastructure and buildings that have been destroyed. However, the audience eye-tracking study yielded different results, indicating that the most impactful visuals for viewers are not images of political figures or destroyed property, but rather those depicting human suffering. Images of war victims – those who are injured, mourning, displaced from their homes, or otherwise in distress – elicited the strongest emotional reactions from audiences. These findings suggest that while the media tends to focus on the broader political and structural aspects of the war, it is the human cost that resonates most deeply with viewers. This highlights the powerful role that human-centered visuals play in shaping public perception of conflict.