Peace, War and Hope

Peace, War, and Hope is a beautifully illustrated essay by an exceptional young Ukrainian man about his firsthand experiences, from a teenage boxing champion to a top fashion editorial and advertising photo model, earning along the way his degree in architecture from the University of Kharkiv until the Russo-Ukrainian War wrought havoc on his life when a missile hit his apartment building near Kharkiv, forcing him to flee to Lvov in the west. However, Russia soon attacked the West, forcing him to flee further south near Odessa. He wanted to escape across a shallow stretch of the Tisza River, which in places is only three or four feet deep.

Careful preparations made, he reached the bank of the Tisza only to be captured at the last minute by the Ukrainian army and taken to a detention center where the army held him for four days in miserable conditions before releasing him for $200, giving back only his backpack emptied of all except his papers and money. Now back at the apartment near Odessa, he continues design work on the startup of a small casual fashion house named Daristil, writes songs, and paints with the constant roar of missiles, rockets, bombs, and gunfire in the background. Remaining positive and hoping for the terrible war to end, he shouts, "Glory to Ukraine!"

Clothing brand: www.daristil.com

Instagram: daristil_shop

Instagram: ralivelife