NEWS
The Book Light Through the Ruins Named Among the Leaders of the Summer Ranking of the "Knyzhka roku 2026" (Book of the Year) Competition
Andrii Kulykov to Moderate the Presentation of Light Through the Ruins
Yurii Veres to Present His Photobook Light Through the Ruins at an Acoustic Evening with Kamianyi Hist
About the Author
Yurii Veres is a Ukrainian documentary photographer and musician, the frontman of the rock band “Kamianyi Hist.”
Since 2022, he has been working extensively in cities and villages affected by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
His photographs have been exhibited internationally and are used in publications by international organizations, including the United Nations, with which he collaborates to document the humanitarian situation in Ukraine.
Yurii Veres is the grandson of Hanna Veres, a People’s Artist of Ukraine, whose works were destroyed during a Russian strike on the museum in Ivankiv. This personal story became one of the conceptual threads of the book.
The Book
“Light Through the Ruins” is a documentary photobook by Ukrainian photographer Yurii Veres about the consequences of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
The book brings together over 300 photographs taken between 2022 and 2025 during journeys to war-affected regions of Ukraine — Kyiv region, Kharkiv region, Chernihiv region, Dnipropetrovsk region, Odesa region, Mykolaiv region, and Zaporizhzhia.
This is not a chronicle of combat, nor a report.
It is a visual narrative about people, memory, loss, resilience, and life that continues even among ruins.
The photographs are accompanied by short author’s texts.
A distinct visual layer of the book is formed by textile works of Mariia Posobchuk, Hanna Veres, and Valentyna Veres — several generations of women from one family. Their woven pieces and ornaments create a thread of family and cultural memory throughout the book.
Order the Book
You can order the book on the Bilka Publishing website.
By purchasing Light Through the Ruins, you help bring this story to readers in Ukraine and around the world. Part of the proceeds will support future editions in other languages and charitable initiatives.
Order your copy today.
Why This Project Matters
Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has become one of the most significant humanitarian crises in contemporary Europe.
Documentary photography is one of the most vital ways to preserve evidence of this war — not only the destruction, but also the lived experience of those going through it.
“Light Through the Ruins” creates a visual record of this time — an honest and human perspective on life in a country at war.
The project can serve as:
— a documentary record for the future
— a tool of Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy
— material for museums, libraries, and educational programs
— a foundation for international exhibitions and presentations
