Anastasia Vistorobska, a former fashion designer who worked for prestigious labels in Paris, has transformed her life dramatically over the past five years. Once immersed in the glamorous world of fashion, she now serves as a combat medic for Ukraine’s armed forces amidst an ongoing war with Russia, a country she was born in and now fights against.
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For more than two and a half years, Vistorobska has treated soldiers close to the front lines while witnessing the harsh realities of war. She has experienced both the sorrow of losing comrades—reporting that 42 individuals have been on missions with her, but only 38 returned—and moments of gratitude, such as a soldier thanking her for saving his life.
On February 24, 2022, as Russia began its full-scale invasion, Vistorobska—a 36-year-old living in rural France—received messages from friends alerting her to the bombardment of Ukraine. Having spent 15 years in France and working in the fashion industry for Chanel and Givenchy, she felt a strong desire to return and help, despite having no military experience or a Ukrainian citizenship.
The massacre of approximately 500 people in Bucha, Ukraine, in March 2022 served as a turning point for her. Vistorobska wrote to a military committee in Ukraine expressing her desire to join the fight, but her initial offer was declined. Encouraged by friends, she joined the Freedom of Russia Legion, a group comprising Russians opposing their own government.
She underwent military training in Texas and was later accepted into the legion, where she has committed to serving on the front line. Vistorobska now leads a tactical evacuation team, situated approximately six miles from the front, providing crucial support to injured soldiers. Despite the dangers of her role, she has stated that she feels safer on the front lines than in Kyiv, where missile strikes have become commonplace.
Her experience in the war has shaped her perspective on identity and morality. Vistorobska prefers to evaluate individuals based on their actions, rather than their nationality. She has signed a three-year contract with the legion but dreams of returning to her artistic roots to create memorial art from soldiers' uniforms and belongings.
Vistorobska remains critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom she describes as a war criminal. She expresses a deep pride in her actions to aid Ukraine, noting, "Putin is scared of the Legion of Russia which means he is scared of me." At 41, she is engaged to a fellow member of the legion and hopes to split her time between France and Ukraine in the future, confident in her contribution to the Ukrainian cause.