French photojournalist Frédéric Pétry documents realities of the war in Zaporizhzhia

When French photojournalist Frédéric Pétry decided to tell the world about the war in Ukraine, he clearly understood what he was getting into. A total of 27 years of service in the French army, operations in hot spots – from the former Yugoslavia to Afghanistan and Africa, and more than 500 parachute jumps. His military experience allows him to see the Ukrainian war through the eyes of a professional who knows what it is like to be on the front line.

After completing his military career, Frédéric Pétry could not sit idly by – his long-standing passion for photography turned into a new profession. Today, he collaborates with the Hans Lucas news agency and also offers his materials to other Western publications.

Unlike journalists from major media outlets, Frédéric makes his trips at his own risk, without serious financial support. His goal is to show the French audience the reality of the Ukrainian resistance and the life of soldiers and civilians in the frontline zone.

In April 2025, the photojournalist spent three days with the fighters of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Velykyi Luh, at various locations on the Zaporizhzhia Axis. According to Dmytro Bohuslavskyi, a local producer from Zaporizhzhia, who accompanied Frédéric, the French photographer recorded not only combat work but also the everyday life of the Ukrainian military.

Frédéric Pétry and Dmytro Bohuslavskyi during the filming of the destruction in Orikhiv. Photo by 65 SMB / Andrii Andriienko

“Frédéric approaches his work very professionally. He doesn’t just take pictures, but tries to understand the context, talk to the soldiers, and write down their stories,” says the famous photographer Andrii Andriienko, who currently serves in the press service of the 65th Brigade and also accompanied the photojournalist.

Frédéric Pétry talks to a local resident in Orikhiv. Photo by 65 SMB / Andrii Andriienko

During his visit, Frédéric Pétry spoke with many servicemen and recorded audio interviews. Despite the language barrier (communication took place through an interpreter), he managed to establish contact with the Ukrainian defenders.

In addition to visiting the positions of the 65th Brigade, the French journalist has visited the destroyed Orikhiv twice. Before the full-scale invasion, about 17,000 people lived in this city; today, no more than 500 residents remain there.

“There are almost no surviving buildings in Orikhiv. High-rise buildings, from two to nine floors, were especially damaged. Some private houses are still preserved, but they are all damaged,” says Dmytro Bohuslavskyi.

The French photojournalist was particularly interested in the story of a retired couple who refused to leave the city because they were looking after their four-legged pets. When the neighbors left Orikhiv, they would leave their cats and dogs with them to take care of, promising to return after a while. However, the war dragged on, and now the couple has about 30 cats and 17 dogs.

An Orikhiv couple with one of their many cats. Photo by 65 SMB / Andrii Andriienko

“Frédéric was very impressed by this story. We brought food for the animals. Such moments of humanity among the ruins and war are what Frédéric tries to show in his reports,” adds Dmytro Bohuslavskyi.

For Frédéric Pétry, this was his first visit to Zaporizhzhia since the start of the full-scale invasion. On the very day of his arrival, April 22, the city was hit by a missile attack on residential buildings.

“He saw with his own eyes the consequences of the strike on the nine-story building and the surrounding buildings. Some people were injured, and one woman was killed. This gave him the opportunity to see that the russian attacks were aimed not only at military facilities but also at civilian infrastructure,” the local producer notes.

Dmytro Bohuslavskyi and Frédéric Pétry inspect the enemy’s punctured helmet. Photo by 65 SMB / Andrii Andriienko

According to Dmytro Bohuslavskyi, Frédéric Pétry clearly sees the difference between the situation in 2022 and today. He understands the changes in the mood of Ukrainians, their hopes, and the difficulties that the country faces in a long war.

The journalist himself tries to maintain journalistic impartiality, but according to the local producer, he clearly supports Ukraine and believes that Western aid should continue. That is why he seeks to convey the truth about the war to a French audience.

After the visit, Frédéric Pétry expressed his gratitude to the brigade’s press service: “I would like to thank the press service team of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade (SMB) for giving me the opportunity to make several interesting and varied reports on the soldiers of the brigade over three days, both in their daily lives and in the performance of their duties. The professionalism of the press officer and his team allowed me to hear the stories of many soldiers about this ongoing war and to better understand its harsh reality. I hope that my reports will soon reach the French media and that future collaborations will allow me to get even closer to the reality of the fighting of these courageous and determined soldiers.”

Frédéric Pétry tries to pilot an FPV drone. Photo by 65 SMB / Andrii Andriienko

The importance of the work of journalists like Frédéric Pétry cannot be overestimated. In an environment where the world’s attention to the Ukrainian resistance is gradually fading, it is such independent reporting that helps to maintain the awareness of the Western audience about the events in Ukraine and the need for further support in the fight against russian aggression.

The NUJU expresses its gratitude to Frédéric Pétry and all foreign journalists who, risking their lives, cover the realities of the russian-Ukrainian war.