Ukrainian Defender Shares the Truth about the Frontlines

In this video, Lena talks to an anonymous Ukrainian Defender who is recovering from phosphorus burns on his hands.

"White phosphorus weapons are not banned, but their use in civilian areas is considered a war crime. They create fast-spreading fires that are very difficult to put out. Russia has been accused of using them before," the BBC said. "Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned the chemical is 'notorious for the severity of the injuries it causes'." (BBC, "Ukraine war: Russia accused of using phosphorus bombs in Bakhmut," Matt Murphy)

Russia is using chemical weapons to harm Ukrainian troops. The use of these weapons continues to be a controversial and developing issue.

In the interview, the Defender also speaks of the hardships of being on the frontlines and losing brothers in arms.

"I was responsible for him, for his life. It is still difficult for me, especially when their mothers call," he says.

During the year and a half he served on the frontlines, the Defender only spoke to a psychologist once, and only for five minutes. This speaks to the need for more mental health infrastructure in Ukraine, which ACHF is actively working to address.

"About PTSD rehabilitation... we need to develop this area, we need many specialists. Rehabilitation is not developed at a sufficient level, but it's quite difficult to implement on the front lines," he said.

The Defender went on to explain that the stress of the front lines makes it hard for soldiers to be treated for their developing and ongoing mental health issues. It is not possible to recover when the body and mind are under constant stress from battle.

When asked about his hope for the future, the Defender stated, "I would like to hope for the best, but the events dragged on. There is hope that everything will end peacefully. I don't know, but I want to."

We also want to know what the future holds for Ukraine and its people. We hope for peace and restoration of this beautiful and wonderful country and its citizens.

Thank you to our generous donors and the United Methodist Committee On Relief for supporting Lena's December 2024 trip to Ukraine. These conversations with veterans are valuable to us and to them. As we continue to address the mental, physical and spiritual needs of Ukraine, these one-on-one meetings provide insight to the areas that are most in need. Without your support, ACHF could not provide as accurate of support to Ukraine.

Let us all continue to stand together for peace and restoration in Ukraine.

(This interview was conducted in December 2024.)