The Volunteers
“What a life,” I kept telling myself, driving yet another day down the same sunny, sunflower-lined Ukrainian highways. “Why do I keep coming back here? Where is that smoke coming from? Why is The Gambler playing on repeat again?” were the following thoughts to enter my mind. “Nice drone, pizdets,” came to interrupt all the other thoughts just as an unknown aircraft passed over us. It was mid-2022, a couple months after Russia invaded Ukraine, and we were tasked with handling special supply missions. My old Toyota wagon was holding up fine except for a near-busted gearbox, and our buses would break down every chance they got. But hey, life was pretty good- except for the war going on around us, of course. Despite all that, I’d say my crew managed to have a pretty good time. All credit goes to Jim Beam for that. We were, we are, volunteers dedicated to living out the teachings of Isaiah 58. This is my personal account of the Russia-Ukraine War, what I call the Volunteers’ War, as I saw it. Take it how you wish, and enjoy. -Ryan ***** It was -11 degrees Celsius as dawn broke. A long icicle hung from the tired canvas of my bell tent which was nestled awkwardly between rows of gazebos, military, and small expedition tents making up the temporary accommodation of the volunteers at the Przemysl refugee camp. Frosty air nipped at my nose and cheeks as I groggily made my way to the repurposed Tesco warehouse housing fleeing Ukrainians. A wave of warmth washed over me as I entered, and so too did the odour and murmur of thousands of displaced women, children, and elderly people. I checked with the various organisations and individuals usually seeking help driving into Lviv, Kyiv, or Kharkiv. Some asked for help in warehouses and others simply needed help collecting data on the number of people needing medication or food for their pets that day and then a hand sourcing the aid. It was still too early for any tasks to be issued, so I left the warmth behind and ventured back out into the cold to queue for coffee and a free meal from the World Food Kitchen along with a gaggle of other volunteers. “What can I get for y’all?” came a chipper, enigmatic voice happily addressing the crowd of ragtag do-gooders from behind the piles of sandwiches, coffee urns, and chocolate ‘Grzeski’ bars. That was when I met Ryan. He was a Texas veteran-turned-humanitarian cowboy, though he is not to be mistaken for the outlaw type associated with breaking hearts and the law (though I can attest he has most definitely done both). Ryan is the kind of cowboy who saves the town after the sheriff's been run out by the bad guys, stays for a shot of whiskey (JD, of course), and then leaves again to find the next meaningful trouble to become enthralled in. Readers of ‘The Volunteers' War: A Firsthand Account of the Russia-Ukraine War’ are in for a ride of a lifetime, dodging drone attacks, nefarious volunteer opportunists, and over-zealous intelligence officers all underscored with humour and the occasional blast of country music references. Prepare yourselves for well-constructed political viewpoints from an educated, worldly young man who has been there and seen it all for himself – a man unmarred by propaganda and Western rhetoric. Ryan has been a boot on the ground in this conflict since 2019 and brings you the sometimes disheartening, usually comically ironic, and outstandingly inspirational stories of how volunteers are winning the war against human suffering in Ukraine. May this foreword serve as an introduction to the riveting tales that follow, providing readers with a profound glimpse into the resilience of the human spirit amid the tumultuous backdrop of war. It’s an honour to call Ryan a fellow warrior for good and a brother in arms. Charles Hammerton, 2023