Documenting the Work of Ukrainian Artillery Through Photography

Wed, 06 May 2026 21:51:00 +0200

Arsenii Gerasymenko, a Kyiv-based photographer, shifted from fashion photography to documenting the realities of war on the Ukrainian front. Since 2022, he has been capturing the lives and operations of the 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade, which uses some of Ukraine's largest and most powerful artillery systems. His work not only shows soldiers and destroyed landscapes but also highlights the technical and emotional aspects of military machinery, such as the 'Pion' artillery system, which fires 110-kilogram shells over long distances, creating a fleeting 'fire flower' phenomenon. Gerasymenko emphasizes safety and operational security in his photography, carefully avoiding geotags and discussing publications with soldiers to prevent sensitive information from reaching enemy forces. Despite challenging conditions, he continues to use both old film cameras and digital equipment to capture dynamic moments. One of his most personal and symbolic photos, titled 'Rage,' commemorates a fallen c