Story of a Foreign Volunteer: "I Believed This War Was Mine Too"

Yuri, callsign “Mega,” is from the province of Bergamo, Italy. In 2023, he came to Ukraine to join the International Legion of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. After completing a short training course, Yuri became a machine gunner in combat units operating on the Bakhmut front, particularly in the villages of Andriivka and Klishchiivka.

“We were stormtroopers — our mission was to push the enemy out of their positions,” Yuri recalls.

He went through a challenging journey — from his first battles to receiving veteran status from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Over two years, he traveled across Ukraine, met locals, learned the culture, and discovered the true value of the fight for freedom.

“One day in Kharkiv, a small child came up, hugged me, and said ‘thank you.’ It was incredible. We’re here for these kids, for the women, for all the people of Ukraine,” he says.

Today, Yuri not only continues to fight for Ukraine’s freedom but also dreams of staying after victory. “I want to remain here — maybe not as a soldier, but as a regular citizen. I’ve come to love this country, its culture, and its people.”