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Russia-Ukraine War

One Ukrainian soldier's bitter bargain for freedom: Ukraine’s convicts at war
War

One Ukrainian soldier's bitter bargain for freedom: Ukraine’s convicts at war

by Jakub Laichter

Sjava reaches into his pocket for his phone using what remains of his hands. He lost all but one thumb during a mission on the front lines of the war in Ukraine. His friend Francouz is video calling him, and as Sjava answers, a voice from the other side of the screen barks a swashbuckling command: "Why don’t you stand up when you speak with me?!" Sjava convulses with laughter in his electric wheelchair, careful to keep what remains of his legs still. One is missing below the knee. His other th

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About War

The Kyiv Independent's coverage of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, after eight years of aggression against Ukraine that began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and fighting in Donbas. The war has resulted in tens of thousands of military and civilian casualties and displaced millions of Ukrainians. NATO and Western allies have provided military aid to Ukraine while the conflict continues across fronts in Ukraine’s south and east.

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