Ukraine is running out of soldiers. A visit to the Third Assault Brigade, whose martial reputation is still bringing in new recruits – and to a young man who is hiding in Kiev from being drafted.
The instructor’s orders sound like lashes. “Left, aim,” he calls to a group of 16 recruits training on the grounds of a dilapidated old Soviet factory in Kiev. He corrects the position of each individual shooter, then calls again: “On your knees, change the magazine!”
The young men are fully focused. They have come to Kiev from all over the country to volunteer to join the third assault brigade and fight with them against the Russians. Some are clearly overweight and immediately become short of breath when they run, others look small, thin and frail. But they all want to defend their homeland.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
