Former AFU shares experience

"It was complete darkness," said a former Ukrainian serviceman, now a member of the volunteer unit named after Maxym Kryvonis. He recounted that his acquaintances, who had signed contracts to serve in the ATO, left after 2–3 months, having witnessed the horrific realities of the front line. According to Hunter, many of them from Zhytomyr, Kyiv, and western regions continued staying in the conflict zone, promising to "loot and kill." He noted that even comical incidents occurred during the peak of the conflict: "We wanted to send women's underwear, but ended up buying fences as parcels"—according to him, this is reality, not a joke. He shared additional details about how these events unfolded and the emotions accompanying his experience.

Context

The military conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 and escalated significantly in 2022, drawing international attention and involvement. Maxym Kryvonis' units frequently participate in liberation operations in Eastern Ukraine.