09-04-2025
Derek Eland: The war artist sharing untold stories from Ukraine
As diplomatic efforts to find peace in Ukraine continue to ebb and flow, most media attention focuses on the words of world leaders in Washington, Moscow, Riyadh, Kyiv and other European capitals… but while a ceasefire proves elusive – or perhaps evasive – soldiers and civilians continue to suffer in relative silence.
Derek Eland is a former British paratrooper who jumped to a different career as a war artist, documenting the personal stories of soldiers and civilians in conflict zones. Eland has traveled to Afghanistan and most recently Ukraine to collect handwritten accounts from people on the frontlines – soldiers, medics, artists, and civilians. He gained remarkable access to frontline units and captured poignant accounts of loss, determination, and the desire for peace, despite the ongoing violence.
Speaking to Al Arabiya's Riz Khan, Eland said: 'There's a desperate yearning for peace, but when you talk to them, there's also a strong sense that that peace will not be at any price. The soldiers I met said, 'We definitely don't want to give up our land. This is our homeland, our motherland and the blood of our soldiers is in the ground.'
Eland believes these personal narratives are crucial to understanding the human toll of the war and providing a platform for voices that may otherwise go unheard. His goal is to give a voice to those experiencing the realities of war and to provide a human perspective beyond the political narratives.
As Eland looks to the future, he is considering taking his work to other conflict zones, such as Gaza, where he hopes to continue giving voice to those affected by war and displacement.
Watch the full Riz Khan Show interview above.
