Latest news with #ArmedForcesofUkraine
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
War's unseen isolation: A Ukrainian officer's story of survival and hope
A lot depends on the circumstances under which you try to define or feel your own loneliness. Let me begin with my biography — my recent story. I joined the army in the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, as an officer in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I had never served in the military before, and I never thought I would. In fact, I considered myself an anti-militarist — and still do. Yet, I see no contradiction between that and being proudly a senior lieutenant in the Armed Forces. Within three and a half months of participating in the liberation of the Kyiv Oblast and other operations further east, half of my platoon — eight of my subordinates and I — was captured by Russian forces in Luhansk Oblast. What followed were two years and four months of Russian captivity. I was a prisoner of war, held the entire time in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory — the very region we were defending. For some reason, keeping me as a POW wasn't enough — perhaps because they learned I was a journalist and human rights activist. A few months into my captivity, they fabricated a criminal case against me. The following year, I was sentenced as a 'war criminal' to 13 years in a penal colony for supposed heinous crimes. I felt lonely because of what I had experienced. The only evidence against me was a confession — extracted under duress. I prefer that phrasing, as it avoids the word 'torture.' I was part of a prisoner exchange in October of last year. Naturally, I'm incredibly happy to be free. But it also breaks my heart — almost everyone I spent those years with in captivity, except for two, are still there. And of my own platoon, four remain incarcerated. As a former POW, when you're released and return to your native city — Kyiv, which I've never loved more — you meet hundreds, even thousands, of wonderful people, joyful to see you free. I felt an overwhelming lightness, warmth, and happiness. And yet, at the same time, I understood — and so did many of them — that something fundamental had changed between us. I felt lonely because of what I had experienced. I've been to places and seen things they never have — and I hope they never will. But I also realized that our worldviews had diverged. How we see and feel the world is no longer the same. Most of them, when they thought about it — without any prompting — said, 'No, we don't know what you went through.' And that's true for every former prisoner of war or civilian detainee. This is what distinguishes a war veteran or a civilian under occupation from everyone else. We are shaped by what we live through. It's a strange thing, to feel lonely in such a significant — perhaps even defining — part of your life. But it's a kind of chosen loneliness, because you don't want others to feel what you felt. You don't want them to go through what you endured. In captivity, our guards deliberately tried to inflict another kind of loneliness. They worked to break us — morally, psychologically, and yes, physically. Especially in the first several months, we were held incommunicado, with no contact with the outside world. They repeatedly told us: 'You've been abandoned. Everyone has forgotten you. You are on your own. You're at our mercy. No one can reach you. We can do whatever we want. No one cares.' Read also: 'It's okay, Mom, I'm home' —Ukraine, Russia hold largest prisoner swap of the war I was lucky. I never believed it. Not for a single second — not even in the darkest moments. I placed all my trust in my loved ones — my family, my friends, my colleagues, and just kind people out there — believing they remembered me, remembered us. Other Ukrainian POWs came to hear me say it out loud: 'We are not forgotten.' That kind of destructive loneliness didn't work. Physically, we were isolated — but morally, we were not. 'You don't know what's happening. You don't understand. Wake up.' The loneliness I felt after my release was of a different kind. It wasn't about isolation. It was more complex. At the same time, I knew I was free because of other people. They had written letters, led campaigns, given interviews, and posted on social media. In the final months of my captivity, I learned there was a campaign of solidarity for me — but I couldn't have imagined the scale of it. After my release, I kept meeting strangers who had participated in it. And I know I am free, to the extent possible, because of them. I had plenty of time in captivity to reflect. My first degree is in philosophy — it never fades. I realized I had never treasured people as deeply as I do now. I began to grasp how much I am human — at my best — because of others. I recently returned from an advocacy trip across Europe, specifically within the EU. And I felt something many Ukrainians abroad have shared with me — being in a peaceful country untouched by what we've endured for more than three years now. I felt joy simply observing people. Watching groups of young people rushing through their day-to-day lives. I was so happy to see people living in normalcy. They should not endure what we're living through. That's a good thing. That's human. War is a state of profound dehumanization. People aren't meant to live through it. I was glad to see them. But at the same time, I felt like I knew something they didn't. I had this urge to walk up to someone, shake them, and say, 'You don't know what's happening. You don't understand. Wake up.' It's a kind of loneliness rooted in experience — that of a former prisoner of war. We've lived through something I sincerely hope no other community or country will ever have to experience. And as terrible as it sounds, I want us to be alone in that experience. Because if we're not, it means we failed to defend ourselves, and others had to share this tragedy with us. I would hope we rather remain lonely in that regard. Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. Submit an Opinion We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian drones have destroyed 89,000 Russian targets in May, says Ukraine's commander-in-chief
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has stated that drones of various types have struck and destroyed 89,000 Russian targets so far in May and the number of drone system crews and development of drone units continues to grow. Source: Syrskyi on Facebook Quote: "The systematic work to scale up drone system units is delivering real results. In May alone, over 89,000 enemy targets have been struck and destroyed with the help of various types of drones." Details: Syrskyi reported that during the monthly meeting on the use and development of drone systems attended by commanders of combat units, an intelligence report was presented regarding the formation of drone forces within the Russian military and the supply of new UAV models and ground robotic systems to the Russians. Syrskyi said the Russians are copying the experience of Ukraine's defence forces and actively expanding their drone units. "That is why we must maintain our development pace and constantly build up our capabilities to stay one step ahead," he said. The commander-in-chief also reported that the number of drone system crews is continuing to grow and drone units are being further developed. Particular attention has been paid to destroying Russian UAV operators and their control centres. The meeting also addressed the development of ground-based drone systems that perform logistical functions on the battlefield, evacuate wounded soldiers, carry out mine-laying and serve as combat modules. "Compared to 2024, we have increased the supply of such systems to military units several fold and expanded training for Ukrainian ground vehicle systems specialists," Syrskyi said. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany commits €5bn to Ukraine for weapons and air defence
German Defence Ministers Boris Pistorius and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umierov have signed an agreement in Berlin to finance the production of long-range weapons in Ukraine as part of a broader support package totalling approximately €5 billion. Source: German Defence Ministry, as reported by European Pravda Details: Umierov visited Berlin as part of a Ukrainian delegation led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which several key agreements were reached. Germany will fund the production of long-range weapons in Ukraine, with the first systems expected to be delivered to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the coming weeks. These systems are already in service, allowing immediate deployment without additional training. The German Ministry of Defence noted that a significant number of weapons systems could be produced in 2025, though details were not disclosed. Germany will also continue to supply artillery shells, air defence systems, ground weapons and small arms. A contract was signed with the German defence company Diehl for the supply of air defence systems and related munitions. Germany plans to invest in repair infrastructure, including the establishment of repair facilities in Ukraine through a joint venture between Ukrainian and German defence companies. Support will also be provided in the fields of communications and medicine. "These measures to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine amount to approximately €5 billion. The funds are drawn from the budget already approved by the Bundestag," the German Ministry of Defence stated. Background: On Wednesday 28 May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced an expansion of military assistance to Ukraine but provided limited details, reflecting a new policy of restricted information about military support to Kyiv. Merz also vowed to do everything to prevent the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from operating. Merz also said that Russia's behaviour in negotiations over the Russo-Ukrainian war indicates the Kremlin's desire to stall rather than to reach a real peace agreement. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ukrainian drones strike Russian missile plant near Moscow – photos, video
Ukrainian drones struck the Raduga plant in Dubna, Russia, which produces cruise missiles, on the night of 27-28 May. Sources: Ukrainska Pravda; General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram Details: Ukrainian long-range drones, operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), bypassed air defence systems protecting Moscow and hit the assembly and equipment workshops of the State Machine Building Design Bureau Raduga named after Aleksandr Bereznyak, located 130 kilometres north of Moscow in Dubna (Russia). The workshops are currently on fire. The plant, which is part of the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation, produces cruise missiles of various classes, including air-to-air, air-to-ground and ground-to-ground types, such as the Kh-101/555, Kh-69, and Kh-59MK missiles, which Russia uses to attack civilian targets in Ukraine. Ukraine's General Staff reports that the plant is also part of Kronstadt JSC, which specialises in unmanned aircraft systems. The facility manufactures UAVs including Orion, Inokhodets, Molniya, Grom, Termit, Helios and Sirius, as well as ground control systems. That same night, Ukrainian defence forces also struck Angstrem JSC in Moscow Oblast (Russia). A hit was recorded in the target area. The company develops and produces microelectronic components widely used by Russia's defence industrial base. The previous day, Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces successfully attacked the Dmitrovsky combine in Ivanovo Oblast (Russia). Explosions were recorded at the facility, which produces organic chemicals, including components for explosives and gunpowder, as well as additives for rocket and aviation fuel. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Russia loses 1,050 soldiers and 18 artillery systems over past day
Russia has lost 1,050 soldiers killed and wounded, four tanks and two armoured combat vehicles over the past day. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Details: The total combat losses of the Russian forces between 24 February 2022 and 28 May 2025 are estimated to be as follows [figures in parentheses represent the latest losses – ed.]: approximately 983,890 (+1,050) military personnel; 10,864 (+4) tanks; 22,644 (+2) armoured combat vehicles; 28,355 (+18) artillery systems; 1,397 (+0) multiple-launch rocket systems; 1,171 (+0) air defence systems; 372 (+0) fixed-wing aircraft; 336 (+0) helicopters; 37,918 (+65) tactical and strategic UAVs; 3,265 (+0) cruise missiles; 28 (+0) ships/boats; 1 (+0) submarine; 49,959 (+52) vehicles and fuel tankers; 3,902 (+0) special vehicles and other equipment. The information is being confirmed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
