Photo story by sasha olsen, iNTERVIEW BY Adrian Gomis Exposito

AGE. Who is Ruslan when no one is watching? What occupies your mind when the world goes quiet?

RB. When everything gets quiet, I become very simple. No performance, no pressure to impress anyone. I usually find myself thinking about growth, how to become a better man, a better artist, and someone who leaves people feeling inspired rather than impressed. Solitude has become one of my favourite places because that’s where I hear my own thoughts instead of everyone else’s.

AGE. You’re currently based in Bangkok, but your work constantly takes you elsewhere. Has living between places changed your idea of what “home” means?

RB. Completely. Home used to be a location. Now it’s a feeling. It’s waking up with purpose, having people you care about nearby, and carrying a sense of peace wherever you are. Travelling taught me that you can belong almost anywhere if you’re connected to yourself.

AGE. You move between modelling and acting, two very different ways of performing. What does each medium allow you to express that the other doesn’t?

RB. Modelling is about telling a story with silence. A single look or movement can communicate something words never could. Acting lets me dive much deeper; it gives me permission to explore emotions, contradictions, and personalities that don’t belong to me. One captures a moment; the other explores a lifetime.

AGE. Fitness seems to be more than just a routine for you. What role does discipline play in your life, both physically and mentally?

RB. Discipline is freedom. It gives me energy, confidence, and clarity. I don’t train because I always feel motivated; I train because I respect the promises I make to myself. The physical changes are great, but the real reward is becoming someone who can rely on himself.

AGE. You often mention curiosity as one of your guiding values. What are you most curious about these days?

RB. People. Why we make certain choices, how habits shape identity, and what allows someone to unlock their full potential. The more I learn, the more I realise that human psychology is endlessly fascinating.

AGE. Fashion, photography and film all revolve around storytelling. What kinds of stories are you naturally drawn to telling?

RB. Transformation stories. I love characters who aren’t perfect but choose courage over comfort. The moments when someone decides to change their life have always been more interesting to me than stories about people who already have everything figured out.

AGE. You’re interested in psychology and philosophy. Have those subjects changed the way you understand yourself or the people around you?

RB. Absolutely. They’ve taught me to judge less and observe more. Most people aren’t difficult; they’re simply carrying experiences you can’t see. The same applies to ourselves. Understanding that creates compassion without losing accountability.

AGE. Three words that describe this chapter of your life?

RB. Intentional. Expanding. Alive.

AGE. A book you’ve returned to more than once?

RB. The Little Prince. It’s one of those rare books that grows with you. Every time I come back to it, I notice something different. As a child, it feels like a fairy tale. As an adult, it quietly reminds you of the things that truly matter, and how easy they are to forget.

AGE. The best lesson running has taught you?

RB. You don’t need to feel ready; you just need to take the next step.

AGE. One habit that has quietly changed your life?

RB. Daily reflection. Spending even ten minutes without distractions keeps me grounded.

AGE. Morning person or night owl?

RB. Morning, without question. I love starting the day before the world gets noisy.

AGE. A city that unexpectedly inspired you?

RB. Bangkok. It has this incredible balance between chaos and calm. Every day feels like an opportunity.

AGE. What’s something people assume about you that’s completely wrong?

RB. That confidence means life comes easy. Real confidence is built through uncomfortable moments, not the absence of them.

AGE. The last thing that genuinely made you laugh?

RB. A completely serious conversation that turned into absolute nonsense because everyone kept misunderstanding each other. Those unplanned moments are always the funniest.

AGE. A place where you feel most at peace?

RB. Somewhere near the ocean, just after sunrise, before anyone else arrives.

AGE. Back to the Yummy world. Without overthinking it, what does the word “yummy” mean to you?

RB. Something that’s impossible to fake. It isn’t just about appearance, it’s about energy. Someone who feels comfortable in their own skin naturally becomes attractive.

AGE. This shoot for Yummyzine 12 explores confidence through simplicity, and the outcome is stunning. How was this experience for you?

RB. I loved it because nothing felt forced. Sometimes the strongest images come from doing less instead of more. There was a real sense of trust between everyone involved, and I think you can feel that in the final photographs.

AGE. We always love hearing what happens behind the final images. Was there a funny, unexpected, or memorable moment from the shoot that stuck with you?

RB. One of my favourite parts of any shoot isn’t actually the camera, it’s the people. Every production brings together creative personalities from completely different backgrounds, and for a brief moment, you become a small community. Everyone has something unique to share, but I always remember the people who can make everyone laugh or tell stories that keep the whole crew listening.

This Yummyzine shoot was especially memorable because it took place in Bali. We witnessed some incredible sunsets, and we also experienced Nyepi, Bali’s Day of Silence. For an entire day, no one goes outside, there are no cars, no internet, and the whole island becomes unbelievably quiet. It gives you space to slow down, have meaningful conversations, reconnect with yourself, and let your imagination wander. In a world that’s constantly moving, that kind of silence feels like a luxury.

AGE. What makes someone genuinely attractive to you beyond appearance?

RB. Curiosity. Kindness. Emotional intelligence. I admire people who are genuinely interested in the world and make others feel seen.

AGE. What’s your relationship with nudity? Does it feel natural to you, or is it something that’s changed over time? Are you someone who feels just as comfortable naked at home or in nature as you do in front of a camera?

RB. My relationship with nudity has definitely evolved. Interestingly, my very first professional photoshoot, at the very beginning of my career, was a nude campaign for a Moscow-based designer. Standing completely naked in front of an entire production crew sounds intimidating, but after the first few minutes, something shifted. It stopped being about exposure and became a feeling of freedom, as if you were simply existing the way nature intended.

Since then, I’ve come to see nudity in art as a form of honesty rather than something provocative. If it serves the story, it feels completely natural. Whether it’s at home, in nature, or in front of a camera, being comfortable in your own skin is one of the purest forms of confidence.

AGE. What’s your everyday underwear of choice? Do you have a favourite style, a pair you always come back to, or are you secretly someone who prefers going commando whenever you can?

RB. Usually well-fitted boxer briefs: comfortable, minimal, and practical. But if I’m spending the entire day at home, I won’t deny that going commando feels pretty liberating.

AGE. What’s the biggest turn-on that has nothing to do with physical appearance?

RB. Someone who is passionate about something. Purpose is incredibly attractive.

AGE. If we opened your bedside table right now, what would it reveal about you?

RB. A book, a journal, and a collection of supplements. Probably not the most exciting answer, but it’s a pretty accurate reflection of who I am.

AGE. After a long day, what’s the first thing you take off: your shoes, your jewellery, or your clothes?

RB. Definitely my shoes. Everything else can wait.

AGE. You’re someone who seems committed to constant evolution. What are you trying to become, not professionally, but personally?

RB. Someone whose actions consistently match his values. Success means very little if you don’t respect the person you become while chasing it.

AGE. Looking ahead five years, what kind of work do you hope you’re creating, and what do you hope people understand about you that they might not see today?

RB. I hope I’m creating work that stays with people long after they’ve seen it, whether it’s a film, a photograph, or even a conversation.

My acting career is already moving in an exciting direction. I’ve had the opportunity to play leading roles and complex, layered characters, and that’s exactly the kind of work I want to keep doing. The performances I’m most proud of aren’t the ones where people notice me; they’re the ones where they forget they’re watching an actor and simply feel something real. I want audiences to leave with genuine emotions, remembering the character long after the credits roll.

More than anything, I don’t want to be remembered just for how I looked. I’d rather be remembered for creating honest work, telling meaningful stories, and proving that discipline, curiosity, and kindness can all exist in the same person.