Yurii From Cherkasy

Before the war, I built machinery for the woodworking industry and raised my son and daughter. I never would’ve imagined—even in my worst nightmare—that I’d have to pick up a weapon.

Stepan From Berestyn

Before the war, I worked as an electrician. Every day meant heading out to job sites, climbing up high, and repairing power lines — all so people could have light and warmth in their homes. Back then, I couldn’t even imagine that the results of years of our work would be wiped out by missile strikes from our crazy neighbor. I couldn’t stand aside when the enemy started destroying everything I’d poured my strength into — and my hopes for the future. So I decided to trade my tool belt for a body armor vest, and my tools for a weapon. Because I understood one simple thing: if we want light in our windows again, we first have to drive out the ones who came to bring us darkness.

Oleksii From Kramatorsk

Before the war, I was the captain of FC Kramatorsk’s U-19 team — football was everything to me. Now it feels like a different life, and sometimes it’s hard to believe it was even real, because reality has changed so much.