Vogue Ukraine Presents Its Spring Print Issue with Oleksandr Usyk on the Cover
World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk appears for the first time on the cover of Vogue Ukraine. In the Spring issue, he talks about victories in the ring, the iron discipline, and his love for his family, his career, and Ukraine.
The large portfolio was shot by British photographer Charlie Gray, known for cinematic portraits of the movie stars Robert De Niro, Anthony Hopkins, and Willem Dafoe, and legendary athletes Anthony Joshua and Zinedine Zidane. With London-based stylist David Bradshaw Gray travelled to Kyiv, where they were granted unprecedented access to the undefeated Ukrainian boxer, following him for three days during the harshest winter of the war.
Usyk posed for Gray in locations across the capital that hold personal and professional significance for him: against the backdrop of the Motherland Monument, at the Olympic training center where he regularly prepares for fights, and inside a boxing club. A major interview with Usyk is a striking insight into the world of one of the most famous Ukrainians in the world and an attempt to understand what makes an athlete a champion.
The new issue is dedicated to big dreams that lead to victories and triumphant acts shaping the future. A portfolio titled Heroes honours those who have invested all their strength in resistance — on the frontline and in the rear. Among them are journalist and army officer Pavlo Kazarin, Paralympic and world champion paracanoeist Maryna Mazhula, musician and public activist Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, as well as energy sector workers, volunteer doctors, and photo journalists. Their portraits were taken by regular Vogue Ukraine contributor, Odesa-born photographer Ira Lupu.
Fashion and art lovers will discover young talents trailblazing the fashion industry; the Australian art director and curator Dan Thawley in charge of the hippest design fairs in Paris and Ukrainian artist Polina Moro who in her intimate art explores what it means to be human.
The issue also features Dior's creative director Jonathan Anderson who is writing a new chapter for the historic maison, and US movie star Amanda Seyfried who despite her dazzling career has chosen the quiet of a remote farm over the constant rush of Hollywood. In the regular literary section, Vogue Ukraine presents an excerpt from We Were Not Waiting for You, the upcoming book by Ukrainian writer and soldier Artem Chekh.
Vogue Ukraine Edition 13 comes with two collectible covers — one of them a limited edition — and is available to order at shop.vogue.ua.
