Skull served and am serving as an infantryman, I have experience in assault and defense. I am currently the commander of an assault group in a battalion of the International Legion. I have been here for over a year and three months, and I do not regret it. If I could turn back time, I would do it again to gain this experience.

I was a private security guard in Brazil. I followed the war on the news and felt in my heart a very strong desire to come and help the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom. So I got a passport, bought a plane ticket, then got to Poland, and from there I entered Ukraine by bus. Everything went very smoothly. I had no problems at immigration control. I said that I was going to the International Legion – and they very quickly stamped my passport and wished me a safe journey.

As soon as I arrived in the Ukrainian city of Ternopil, I immediately joined the International Legion and underwent military training. It was something very different from what I was used to when I served in the Brazilian army. Almost nothing of what I had learned before, I used here neither in training nor in combat. Very thorough medical training. Until then, I did not know how to apply a tourniquet. And here it is very important to be able to do it.

I also immediately received a military uniform and various equipment. They gave me everything new in plastic. I was surprised, because before that I had heard that everything had to be earned, everything was done by sweat of the brow and so on. But I had no problems with this and with the weapons either. I did not even think that I would immediately receive a new rifle out of the box. The logistics were also very good. They took us to training by bus, they always prepared food for us.

Overall, it was pretty good, although at first the language barrier was a big problem. That's why I always tried to be around Brazilians, Colombians and other Latin Americans, because we can communicate freely. But we also have friendly relations with Ukrainians. I've never had any problems with them. They are usually very friendly. Ukrainians are very grateful to us for helping them in their fight.

For all those who want to come, I want to say the following. I really appreciate the guy who is a real soldier. He's not someone who comes to war for adventure or big money. No, he comes with kindness in his heart to help Ukraine against the unjust invasion of Russia. It's important for all those who want to come to prepare well psychologically and physically. The front is something we've never seen in our lives, especially Brazilians. We're not used to it, although I lived in conditions of street war in Rio de Janeiro. But here is a completely different full-scale war.