Dara Petrova is a Ukrainian documentary photographer.

Born in Izmail, Odesa region, Ukraine, Petrova obtained a Master’s degree in Law from Odesa Law Academy in 2020, specializing in Social Security Law. Graduating with distinction, subsequent professional experience included internships at the Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office, practice in migration law focusing on the immigration process and citizenship obtaining.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Petrova relocated to Paris, France, where began documenting the crisis faced by Ukrainian refugees. In April 2022 after coming back to Ukraine Petrova focused on the southern regions of Ukraine, developing documentary projects including: 

• Project “The Ballad of Coming Home” (2022-2025) exploring themes of memory, nostalgia and cultural connection with Ukraine by documenting cultural context of family in the villages in Besaarabia.   
• Project “CIRCLE” (2025-ongoing)  captures everyday life in Ukraine during the war years, in the ambivalence of life, where ‘joy and disappointment, war and douleur intertwine, ’ as the tattoo of one of the characters says.

Petrova is a member of Women Photograph, in 2025 has been selected for the 30 Under 30 Women Photographers by Artpil, Finalist of MYPH Photography Prize 2025, also is currently a student and a recipient of the Director’s Fellowship at the International Center of Photography in New York.

darapetrovaphoto@gmail.com