Who is Andrey Khludeyev? The Kazakh Photographer Who Documented Covid From a Hospital Ward

On 13 March 2020, Kazakhstan confirmed its first cases of Covid-19. Soon after, the virus spread quickly across the country. Photographer Andrey Khludeyev would later find himself not only as a patient but also as a rare witness who captured the reality inside a Covid-19 hospital ward.

Khludeyev, who lives in Almaty, first ignored the warnings. He thought the virus was “fake news.” But in summer 2020, he became sick. At first, it felt like the flu — fever, cough, and weakness. Then, an X-ray showed he had double-sided pneumonia, one of the most dangerous Covid-19 complications.

Hospital Admission in Almaty

Doctors advised him to get treatment immediately. A friend confirmed that his condition was serious and urged him to go to hospital at once. He packed quickly and said goodbye to his wife.

Hospitals in Almaty were full at the time. Vaccines were not available yet, and many people chose to stay home. Khludeyev was admitted to a clinic staffed partly by volunteers. The experience felt strange. On one hand, he was receiving medicine and care. On the other hand, he saw patients who seemed fine one day but began struggling to breathe the next.

Smuggling a Camera Inside

Among his belongings was a Chaika-II, a small Soviet-era film camera. It was half-frame, which allowed him to take 72 pictures on a roll of film. Khludeyev said he could not miss the chance to document what he saw, even if it might be his last work as a photographer.

He took photos of doctors, nurses, and patients. At first, many were suspicious. But when he showed them their portraits, they began to appreciate his work. Soon, doctors even lined up to be photographed.

His black-and-white images showed exhausted staff in protective suits, masks fogged with sweat, and patients fighting to breathe. Some of the pictures looked surreal, almost like scenes from Chernobyl, but they were real moments of the Covid crisis.

The Meaning of His Work

Khludeyev said he wanted to prove that Covid was real and dangerous. His photos were dark, emotional, and powerful. They carried the weight of fear, survival, and hope inside the hospital walls.

Looking back five years later, he says he feels both nostalgic and grateful. He recovered fully and still remembers the dedication of the doctors. Many of them were volunteers — students, teachers, and ordinary people who risked their lives to save others.

He also thanks his family and friends for their support during his illness. For him, those three weeks in hospital were both terrifying and inspiring. He says it was one of the most important times in his life as a photographer.