“My wife ask me how we can all be so brave in the position. I told her I am not brave. I told her when the artillery comes onto the position or the Russian assault starts I want to cry and I wish I was someplace else.

I told her I follow the soldier in front of me. That is it. I am not more brave than anyone else. I just follow the man I’m front of me. If he stops I stop. If he goes I go.

I tell her what courage is, and it is simple as staying where you need to be. Some men have huge amounts of courage. I do not understand it. Most of us are just normal and like I said, follow the man in front.”

⁃ Ukrainian Soldier. Eastern Front. Bakhmut Area. December 7th, 2022.