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Two years after the bloody conflict began in earnest, two Ukrainians fighting for their country have appealed to Ukraine’s allies to continue supporting them.
Artyom, 31, a member of the Ukrainian National Guard, said if Ukraine fails, its European allies will be the next targets of Russian aggression.
“They need to understand that Ukrainians are not fighting only for themselves,” Artem told BI.
“I am Ukrainian. This is my land and my little daughter is waiting for me,” he added. “She doesn’t want to give her such a bad life.”
February 24, 2024 marks the second anniversary of the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured, many more have been displaced, and parts of the country have been left devastated.
Nevertheless, the war shows no signs of ending, and war fatigue among some of Ukraine’s allies is evident. Congressional Republicans have blocked further aid to Ukraine, and the EU is struggling to push through financial support.
However, Ukrainians see their role as an important bulwark against Russian aggression.
Another soldier with call sign Local told BI: “Supporting Ukraine and supporting Ukraine is very important because Ukraine is like the first step to Europe. The second step. is Poland,” he said.
Local joined the Ukrainian army in 2021, the year before Russia launched a full-scale invasion, and proxy fighting was already underway in eastern Ukraine.
He said that we must fight for Ukraine, adding: “I want to raise the Ukrainian flag on our territory, see our flag, see our fields, see our homeland. We must do this because it is our mission.”
The soldiers spoke to BI at a training camp in the United Kingdom, where they were taking part in a 10-week training program run by the British military.
They are not alone in expressing concern about other parts of Europe being on the front lines.
The prime minister of Lithuania, a member of NATO and the European Union and a major ally of Ukraine, told BI last year that Ukrainians are eager to help protect Europe, and that supporting Ukraine would be “an important step for our country.” “It’s an investment in security.”
“If you want to stop Russia on Ukraine’s borders, you better give Ukraine all the weapons that the Ukrainian army needs, because otherwise the war in Europe may not end for a very long time,” she said. said.
Several European NATO members have warned that Russia could attack them if it is not defeated in Ukraine. This could draw the United States directly into war, since NATO considers an attack on one member state an attack on all members.
Last month, CIA Director William J. Burns said cutting off U.S. aid to Ukraine would be an “own goal of historic proportions.”
He said that by supporting Ukraine, the United States could weaken Russia with a modest investment and reap big benefits.
But support from some allies is waning.
U.S. House Republicans have stalled $61 billion in aid, and some European countries don’t have enough weapons to contribute to their own arsenals because the continent’s manufacturing hasn’t increased enough to keep up with demand. claims.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers are warning of shortages of vital ammunition and weapons, leading to rationing, losses and deaths.
Late last month, Ukraine’s defense minister said his country’s military could fire only a third of what Russia could fire each day.
Ukraine also lacks missiles to thwart Russia’s formidable air force.
The shortage has real-world implications, with Ukraine pulling out of the eastern town of Avdiivka last week and Russia reaping its biggest bounty in months.
The White House said Ukraine was forced to withdraw “as a result of Congressional inaction and dwindling supplies meant Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition.”
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