Russia is destroying homes, destroying families. What Russia is doing is mind-boggling! Anyone with common sense understands that this is wrong.

I arrived in Ukraine in May 2022, shortly after hearing President Zelensky’s appeal to foreigners to help defend Ukraine on TV. I decided to come and join the Ukrainian Defence Forces because many of my friends in Canada are Ukrainian.

Before that, I served in the Canadian Armed Forces, was a member of a combat vehicle crew, and after the army I worked as a truck driver. I knew that there would be training camps in the International Legion. But before leaving, I did my own physical training to get back in shape. This turned out to be very important, because the difference between life and death often depends on how far and how fast you can move.

When I arrived, at first, together with other volunteers, we trained a lot. There was both physical exertion and tactical training in the group. I shared my experience from the Canadian army, others from the armies of the USA, Great Britain and other countries. Together we created a single unit.

At first, I served in infantry units, and later in the 21st tank battalion on the Leopard 2A6. As far as I know, I became the first foreigner to command a Leopard tank in Ukraine. I was nicknamed “Leopard Commander”. I remember the first combat mission: we had just left the shelter, and the Russians, seeing us, simply turned around and ran away.

I will give four pieces of advice to those who want to join the Ukrainian army. The first is to save money, do not be wasteful. The second is to study the military units and choose the one where you will be most useful. Third, be humble and listen to veterans. Even without experience, they will help you become effective. And most importantly, you need to be mentally and physically prepared. The conditions of this war are difficult, almost like in the movie “1917”: stress, noise, darkness — everything is oppressive. You need to prepare yourself to endure it.

In Ukraine, what struck me most was the hospitality and gratitude of the people. They came up to shake hands, invited me to their homes for dinner. This made my service even more valuable. By the way, when you come here, pay attention to how great Ukraine is! This is a country with wonderful people, with a rich culture and history!

Ukraine deserves to be defended, making every effort.