Annika Felder
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This photobook tells the story of the war in Ukraine through the eyes of its railway workers, documented by photographer and journalist Jelle Krings. Over three and a half years, Krings followed the lives, struggles, and resilience of Ukraine’s railway community as Russian missiles and troops devastated the country.
Services
Image Edit (Support)
Book concept
Editorial design
Photography & writing
Jelle Krings
Project
2024
Publisher
Lannoo
Lithography
Marc Gijzen
This project was created during employment at LMNOP.works
More than 200,000 railway workers maintain nearly 20,000 kilometres of track across Ukraine. Despite constant attacks, they have kept the network largely operational throughout the war, enabling evacuations, delivering aid and playing a vital role in Ukraine’s resistance.
The book moves between the brutal realities of war and the intimate stories of the railway families who endure it. This contrast is reflected in the design: sombre landscapes and deep blues are juxtaposed with the warmth of train interiors, where soft pinks and orange accents represent safety, hope and the possibility of freedom.
Its sharp, brick-like form reflects both the weight and scale of the story. A cardboard hardcover with cold-cut edges gives the book a strong physical presence and a sense of solidity. The typography, set in a condensed typeface designed by a Ukrainian type foundry, draws on the movement of a train. Through variations in spacing and pacing, the text appears to speed up and slow down as the reader moves through the pages, creating a sense of movement. Together, these design elements reflect the central theme of the project: the devastation of war alongside the determination and resilience of Ukraine’s railway workers – the Iron People.
