At Home With Ukraine's Darth Vader

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader, who is dressed as the Star Wars character Darth Vader, poses for a picture as he waits for sunrise on the roof of his apartment block in Odessa, Ukraine.



Darth Vader was bent on galactic domination, but his Ukrainian namesake enjoys more mundane pursuits: local politics, walking the family dog and a spot of embroidery.



The Ukrainian citizen, who has changed his name to Darth Mykolaiovych Vader, ran for the post of local mayor in October, his political backers dressed as Stormtroopers.



In his trademark black outfit, he is a regular sight around Odessa, a major port city on southern Ukraine's Black Sea coast.

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader speaks to a woman while walking his dog in a park in Odessa.

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader rides on a tram in Odessa.

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader (R) and people dressed as Star Wars characters Chewbacca (L) and a Stormtrooper select products in a grocery store in Odessa.

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader irons his cloak at his apartments in Odessa.

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader does embroidery at his apartments in Odessa.

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader pretends to shave in a bathroom at his apartments in Odessa.

Darth Mykolaiovych Vader reads a book in bed at his apartments in Odessa.