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

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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Everyone is talking about World War III. Sweden is preparing for it

Ukraine's wartime experience is becoming a source of practical lessons for countries trying to strengthen their own resilience and defense. In today's Europe, talk of a wider war no longer sounds remote or unlikely. The anxiety is real, and governments are reassessing their security and defense. That's where Ukraine's experience is becoming both a warning and a guidebook, showing what happens to a modern society under sustained attack, what systems come under pressure first, and what helps a co

Swedish soldiers take part in a military exercise in Kivilompolo, Finland, on March 9, 2024.

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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