(short story)

When my friend turned 17, he was just a first-year cadet at a military academy in Kyiv. Life was full of ambition and dreams, but all of it shattered when the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. His hometown, Mariupol, became a living hell.

While his family struggled to evacuate, his father stayed behind to defend the besieged “Azovstal.” For weeks, they had no clear communication, only the echo of explosions and fragmentary news about the resistance. Eventually, his father was captured, spending nearly two years in Russian captivity—from April 2022 to February 2024. His family escaped Mariupol in their car, leaving behind their home and life as they knew it. The city they fled was a ruin, consumed by fire and sorrow.

He was just a teenager, yet the weight of survival bore down on his shoulders. On March 2, 2022, his 18th birthday, the legal age to join the fight, he made a decision that would forever change him. With a rifle in hand and resolve in his heart, he became part of the Kyiv operation, defending the capital from advancing forces. His youth transformed into courage on the battlefield, as he stood alongside others who shared the same determination to protect their homeland. For almost two years, the fate of his father loomed large in his life. Every day, his family lived with the ache of uncertainty. When his father was finally freed, their reunion was both a relief and a reminder of everything they had endured.

Even now, as he continues to serve, I cannot help but feel awe and deep respect for him. His story, though marked by pain, speaks of resilience and an unyielding spirit. Yet, it’s hard not to feel sorrow too—because no one should have to face such trials at such a young age.