Faces of Modern Ukraine: Stories of Heroism, Love, and Sacrifice

The bloodiest war of the 21st century began in 2014 when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and occupied parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. The author of this book felt the impact of the war deeply, as his hometown fell under Russian occupation. In 2017, driven by a sense of duty, he joined the fight against the invaders, traveling to Eastern Ukraine and enlisting in the Right Sector volunteer corps.
There, he met individuals who came to defend their homeland not for recognition or rewards but out of a profound love for their country. This book is dedicated to these remarkable people, who come from diverse backgrounds, nationalities, beliefs, genders, and ages. Yet, they all share a common bond: an unwavering love for Ukraine.
The author takes pride in having known these heroes personally. Within these pages, you will learn about their lives and see their faces—the face of modern Ukraine. Tragically, some of these heroes are no longer with us, taken too soon by the horrors of war. Yet their memory endures and will remain with us forever.