The outpouring of support for Ukraine has been immense, and now TokyoPop has teamed up with a selection of Ukrainian creators1 to bring us Peremoha: Victory For Ukraine. It’s free across various digital distributors and worth checking out now!
The heroism, tragedy, and insanity of the war in a poignant collection of nine stories by Ukrainian creators available now with free e-books on leading digital platforms for a limited time
PEREMOHA: VICTORY FOR UKRAINE, a new full-color graphic novel anthology by Ukrainian creators, available for free for a limited time across all major digital platforms including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, KOBO, ComiXology, GooglePlay and more.
The war comes to readers (for ages 12+) in nine stories that humanize the conflict in Ukraine in a unique and emotionally lasting way with a focus on the heroism of the Ukrainian people and military in the face of overwhelming forces. Witness the struggles of brave defenders in cities like Kiev, Mariupol, Kherson, and Snake Island, and how the utter insanity and irony of the war is told from the standpoint of a looted Ukrainian washing machine, and a humble farm tractor that wants to steal Russian tanks.
“The conflict in Ukraine is the most destabilizing and bloodiest event to happen in Europe in over 75 years,” says Eduard Akhramovych, Founder of the Ukrainian-based creative collective, Art Nation, and General Producer of VICTORY FOR UKRAINE. “The motivation for this graphic novel grew from the desire among a group of talented Ukrainian creators to tell the stories of brave soldiers and ordinary civilians who are fighting Russian oppression and who have inspired the world with their resistance and resilience.”
The availability of digital versions of PEREMOHA: VICTORY FOR UKRAINE at no cost also will make the book available to a wider audience of global readers, including educators and libraries, which play a critical role in making students and patrons aware of conflict and the people affected by it.
The stories in PEREMOHA: VICTORY FOR UKRAINE include:
Episode 1: The Ghost of Kiev – the now legendary story of an invincible ace Ukrainian fighter pilot – the Ghost of Kyiv – a man who protected hundreds of thousands of Kyivans, their children and homes during the first 30 hours of a massive attack on the city when he shot down 6 Russian planes
Episode 2: The Witch – Witches hold a distinct and storied place in Ukrainian culture. Witness how Russian soldiers bent on terrorizing the civilian population find more than they bargain for when they meet a vengeful Ukrainian witch on a deserted road.
Episode 3: Azov-Stal – This story is about the Azov regiment, the marines, border guards and policemen; who held out against incredible odds in the long-suffering city on the shores of the Sea of Azov; about the people who became hostages of the bloodthirsty military machine of the Russians.
Episode 4: Looters – The looting of the Russian army and the ironic fate of a Ukrainian washing machine
Episode 5: Zmiinyi Island 13 –The now iconic battle for Snake Island, where a band of brave Ukrainian solders defied the Russian navy and the proclaimed the legendary phrase that the world now knows – “Russian Warship F...ck Yourself.”
Episode 6: Throughout the Centuries – Ordinary Ukrainians take up arms against the Russian army using ancient earthen ramparts called the Snake Walls, built during the time of Kyivan Rus by Princes Volodymyr the Great and Yaroslav the Wise in the 9th and 10th Centuries to defend their lands from attacks from the southeast by nomadic tribes. In WW2, they were part of the defense lines against the Nazis and today they have helped to slow down and menace the advance of the invading Russian army.
Episode 7: Brave Little Tractor – An inspiring about an unlikely hero - a brave Ukrainian farm tractor that steals Russian army tanks
Episode 8: Cyber Kherson – An inspiring story of a new breed of Ukrainian rebels using technology to continue the struggle for democracy under brutal Russian occupation in the city of Kherson, located near Crimea and the eastern Donbas region.
Episode 9: The Price of Victory – How ordinary people in Ukraine went to war to defend their home, families, freedom, and fight for the right to live in their own free country and determine their own futures.
Readers are also encouraged to support and donate to Razom for Ukraine, (“Razom” meaning “together” in Ukrainian), a non-profit Ukrainian-American human rights organization established to give direct support to the people of Ukraine in their pursuit of a democratic society with dignity, justice, and human and civil rights for all. More details at:
https://www.razomforukraine.org/
“In light of Russia's recent escalation of civilian bombing in Ukraine, we think it's more important than ever for believers in democracy worldwide to hear first-hand from local creators through this important work,” says Stu Levy, Founder/CEO of TOKYOPOP. “Working with our digital partners to make VICTORY FOR UKRAINE available at no cost digitally will help ensure that as many people as possible have access to these stories. These are stories that serve a higher purpose and must be told, and I urge people to read them and find ways to get involved and help the people of Ukraine.”
PEREMOHA: VICTORY FOR UKRAINE Creator Credits:
General Producer - Eduard Akhramovych
Project Leader - Vyacheslav Buhaiov
Managers - Oleksandr Fylypovych, Olha Vozniuk, Hennadii Shevchenko
Artists - Oleksandr Koreshkov (Episode 1), Kateryna Kosheleva (Episode 2), Yevhenii Tonchylov (Episode 3), Volodymyr Povoroznyk (Episode 4), Ihor Kurilin (Episode 5), Maksym Bohdanovskyi (Episode 6), Bohdana Vitkovska (Episode 7), Nazar Ponik (Episode 8), Kyrylo Malov (Episode 9)
Colors - Oleh Okuniev (Episode 3), Ihor Kurilin (Episode 8)
Cover Artists - Oleksii Bondarenko, Nazar Ponik
Writers - Denys Fadieiev (Episodes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9), Ruslan Samaryk (Episode 4), Bohdana Vitkovska (Episode 7)
Dialogue - Vyacheslav Buhaiov (Episodes 5, 8), Denys Fadieiev (Episodes 5, 8)
Interpreter - Hanna Andrieieva