“Through wrenching, first-person narratives, Boyechko shows why Ukrainian resistance didn’t collapse immediately, as predicted, upon Russia’s invasion. As he explains, ‘They asked how many weapons Ukraine had. They never asked how many people were willing to drive into the fire.’”
—Brenda Flanagan, former Senior Correspondent, NJ Spotlight News/NJ PBS
“This illuminating anthology offers a window onto a people thrust into the existential terror and impossible daily choices of war. The stories of these souls lay bare the human cost of Russia’s war and explore the reservoir of resolve that fuels Ukrainian resistance.”
—David Brennan, Journalist, ABC News
“Defiant Hope captures the extraordinary courage of ordinary people who refused to look away—and reminds us that the most powerful force in the world is one person deciding to show up for another. This book will move you to tears and to action.”
—Marianna Olszewski, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Live It, Love It, Earn It
“The story of war is found in the experiences of ordinary people. Defiant Hope brings those voices to life, revealing the human instinct to stand by one another when everything else falls apart.”
—Sonal Nain, reporter and producer
“We’re used to watching war from a distance, counted in territory, casualties, and outrage. Boyechko brings us close enough to see what the people of Ukraine are becoming—not despite what’s been done to them, but through what they refuse to let be taken from them.”
—Dov Baron, architect of Emotional Source Code
“What is captured in this work is something most outsiders never fully see: the quiet courage of ordinary Ukrainians who chose to stay, serve, and sacrifice for others in the middle of unimaginable hardship. A powerful and deeply human account of courage, faith, and resilience in the face of evil.”
—Chuck Holton, war correspondent and documentary filmmaker
