Fighting For Ukraine

October 13th 2026 Yuriy recounts how Russians in newly occupied Ukrainian towns initially claimed to be “liberators,” using hateful conspiracies about “gays” and “Jews,” but then, when Ukrainians did not welcome them, turned to targeted killings, prisons, and torture for speaking Ukrainian or displaying a flag. He says Russian propaganda shifted to openly genocidal calls to destroy Ukrainians, wit...

  Yuriy describes how air raid alerts now last 20–22 hours in many Ukrainian cities, numbing people into living with constant danger and daily missile casualties. Ukraine jams GPS to slightly reduce drone and missile accuracy, making phones think they’re in places like Peru, while missing road signs and smoke-filled skies from Russian strikes on civilian buildings mark life on the road. He notes t...

September 7th 2026 Yuriy says a long-suppressed fear now haunts him daily: what happens if Ukraine loses. As a soldier, he believes Ukraine’s disappearance would mean his death on the battlefield or execution for what he has written and said. He remembers being invited to work in London years ago but realizing he could not leave; Ukraine is his home, and he will stay, hoping the country endures. S...

August 24th 2026 On Ukraine’s Independence Day, Yuriy calls the celebration “nice but strange” as the country keeps fighting for freedom from the enemy in the north. He admits that he mostly says “Russians” only on the podcast; in real life and even on Ukrainian media he uses two older Ukrainian slur names - words that don’t mock appearance, but preserve lived history. Send Yuriy your letter of su...

August 13th 2026 Yuriy describes the fact that Russians are erasing entire Ukrainian cities—first with mass artillery and then with heavy KAB bombs—reducing them to ash and rubble while calling it “liberation.” He describes Kharkiv being bombed daily, with deaths, ruined infrastructure, and familiar streets and parks scarred but still standing, unlike towns that now exist only as piles of debris v...

August 4th 2026 Yuriy reflects on a recurring message from a friend who has served since the first days of the war: “It’s a miracle we are still standing.” He recalls his first unit that defended Kyiv in February–March 2022, noting that out of roughly 100 people, by August 2026 only seven or eight would still be serving. About half were killed, many in the first two years; others are missing in ac...

July 17th 2026 Yuriy recalls meeting a Kurdish sheikh in Iraq about 10 years earlier, a lifelong warrior who had fought ISIS, Al Qaeda, Saddam Hussein’s army, and rival Kurdish clans, and who said he “shot people because he couldn’t shoot an ideology.” When pressed on how such different enemies shared one ideology, the sheikh explained that the common thread was tyranny—systems that turn people in...

July 9th 2026 After a long absence, Yuriy returns on July 9 and explains he’s been overwhelmed by depression and insomnia while continuing his military duties amid constant bombings, personal losses, and worry for his seriously ill father far away. With sleepless nights stretching on, he began revisiting and rewriting stories from his years reporting wars and revolutions in the Middle East, shapin...

March 15th 2026 Yuriy recalls buying an olive military backpack in early 2022 despite friends insisting the Ukraine war would end soon, and now—after wearing through three and needing a fourth—he reflects bitterly on how long the war has lasted. He marks the time by his daughter turning 21 and laments missing key moments of her growing up, wishing her a life with more peace. Send Yuriy your letter...

February 20th 2026 Yuriy reflects on Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, honoring protesters killed during the February 2014 shootings in Kyiv and describing them as the first victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war, driven by Kremlin pressure on Yanukovych’s regime and propaganda portraying protesters as Nazis and criminals. Recounting what he witnessed during the con...

January 21st 2026 Yuriy opens up about his prolonged absence and the challenges faced due to personal struggles with depression and caution in communication. He provides an insightful look into the difficulties Ukraine is currently facing, including severe winter conditions, escalating attacks on civilians and infrastructure, and the pervasive impact of the ongoing war on future plans. Yuriy share...

December 12th 2025 In this episode, Yuriy, a journalist-turned-soldier, reflects on his experiences with body armor during his reporting years in conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Gaza. He explains his decision to forgo wearing body armor due to its cumbersome nature and the logistical challenges it presented. Reflecting on the early days of his military service during the full-scale war in...

November 11th 2025 In this milestone 300th episode of Fighting For Ukraine, Ukrainian journalist-turned-soldier, now war Veteran Yuriy marks his 45th birthday on the front lines — another year lived inside the Ukraine war. What should have been a day of celebration is instead filled with reflection, grief, and quiet resilience. Yuriy looks back on the years the war has taken — from 41 to 45 — and...

November 4th 2025 In this moving episode of Fighting For Ukraine, Ukrainian journalist-turned-soldier Yuriy reflects on life in the midst of the Ukraine war — and on the small dreams that help him and his comrades endure. As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches far beyond the first six months, Yuriy shares how Ukrainian soldiers hold on to hope by imagining the peace that will some...

October 27th 2025 Yuriy returns to his childhood apartment in Kharkiv, reflecting on memories and the stark changes brought by war. Amidst the remnants of the past, he finds solace in small comforts and prepare the space for fellow Ukrainian soldiers passing through. Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com   Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: http...

October 7th 2025 In the wake of increased Russian bombings targeting Ukraine, the city of Dnipro stands as a primary target. Despite the ongoing devastation and personal horror, residents persist in daily life, adapting to the continuous threat while grappling with immense fear and loss. Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com   Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give on...

Yuriy reflects on his three and a half years in the army, recounting experiences of loss, perseverance, and the ongoing conflict that has spanned 1,300 days. He shares personal anecdotes and the emotional toll the prolonged war has taken on him and his country. Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com   Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://pa...

August 22nd 2025 Yuriy returns after a long absence to discuss the uncertain future of Ukraine's war. He shares his concerns about decisions being made without Ukraine's consent, the potential humiliation in impending peace talks, and the internal divisions in Ukraine that may follow. Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com   Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once...

July 28th 2025 Yuriy reflects on his experience with illness, the enduring effects of war in Ukraine, and the striking parallels between his own journey and that of his grandfather, both marked by their status as war veterans. Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy    Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat   Subscribe to his substack:...

July 11th 2025 Yuriy reflects on the psychological toll of war, the loss of close friends, and the inescapable horrors faced in Ukraine. Amidst widespread destruction and cruelty, he delves deep into the struggle of being both an observer and an active participant in the conflict. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or simply send him a message of support: fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com    ...

July 3rd 2025 Yuriy recounts a harrowing experience in Cairo during the mass protests against the ruling authorities in Egypt on July 3rd, 2013. He covers the arrest of President Mohamed Morsi, the dangers faced by journalists and foreigners, and the tragic events surrounding the military dispersal of the pro-Morsi encampment at Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or si...

June 12th Yuriy recounts the tragic divide within his own family due to the ongoing war, revealing the schizophrenic beliefs held by many Russians. He criticizes the contradictory narratives supported by the Russian government and highlights the dire consequences of these delusions on both personal and societal levels. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or simply send him a message of support:...

June 2nd 2025 Yuriy discusses the highly successful operation by Ukrainian special forces against Russian long-range strategic aircraft and delves into the symbolic significance of these aircraft for Russia, the historical context of their production, and the broader implications on Russian propaganda and the concept of a Soviet restoration. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or simply send hi...

May 26th 2025 Yuriy explores the disturbing trend of boasting memoirs emerging from the Russians during the ongoing conflict. He contrasts these narratives with historical justifying memoirs from WWII, highlighting how Russian authors take pride in war crimes and attribute their failures to anything but the Ukrainian resistance. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or simply send him a message o...

May 15th 2025 Yuriy shares a profound and unsettling realization about the ongoing war in Ukraine. He discusses how the conflict's end is a distant dream, given Russia's deep-seated ideology of destroying Ukraine, and emphasizes the grim reality that future generations will continue to perceive this war as a normal, permanent state. You can email Yuriy, ask him questions or simply send him a messa...