“Russian men. We are waiting for you. We are dug in with clean weapons. Machine guns, and artillery. If you cross over the border, we are waiting for you. We have trained for this moment. I will admit, I am frightened to fight, but we, are ready.

I am new here. I have never fought. The others have more experience. Some have taken lives, others have seen men die. They said sometimes separatists are so close you can hear them talk in the trenches.

I don’t want to kill any of you. We want to be in peace and go back to our homes. I question if you’d like the same? I’ve been here in the trench for weeks. My children’s picture hangs next to my bunk. I want to see them, but will die for them if I must.

Russian men. We are waiting for you. I hope you don’t, but if you do, we are waiting for you.”

– Anonymous Ukrainian Rifleman. Ukrainian Trenches, 2021.

This story was documented by Battles and Beers. Every soldier has a story, and every story deserves to be told.

Hundreds of stories just like this are available in my book, “What War Did To Us” which is now available on Amazon.