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US President Donald Trump’s peace initiatives to end Russia’s war against Ukraine are gradually gaining momentum. After the US President’s meeting with Russian ruler Vladimir Putin in Alaska and talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders in Washington, there is talk of direct Ukrainian-Russian talks at the level of heads of state.

Back in early summer, Putin categorically rejected the possibility of talks with Zelensky. And now they are going to organize their meeting within two weeks! And then it is planned to organize a trilateral meeting of the heads of the US, Ukraine and Russia. It must be admitted that the owner of the White House is making extraordinary efforts to reconcile the aggressor and the victim of aggression.

But does this mean an early and unconditional end to the war? No.

We must remember that this war was started by Russia in February 2022, and it is she who has been making exorbitant demands on Ukraine from the very beginning. Peace on Russian terms is impossible, because Moscow cannot force Kyiv to surrender. Let us remember: the Russian offensive has not yielded results.  

Neither side can force the other to surrender. Under such conditions, a peace agreement is possible only as a result of a compromise, which will be difficult and painful for both sides. Therefore, freezing the conflict seems much more likely. But freezing the conflict is also possible only under certain prerequisites. At least two key questions remain open at the moment:

- what concessions are both sides ready to make?
- what will be the security guarantees for Ukraine?

In any case, the main guarantee of security and state independence of Ukraine was, is and will remain the strong and powerful Defense Forces of Ukraine and, above all, the battle-hardened Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is emphasized by both President Zelensky and Ukraine's international partners, who continue to financially and militarily assist Kyiv.

And the modern Ukrainian army includes foreign volunteers. The struggle for the right of Ukrainians to live in their own independent state continues. Ukraine continues to invite foreign volunteers to the ranks of its army. The Ukrainian military continues to be ready to teach them the methods of modern warfare and jointly stand in defense of freedom and justice.

A volunteer from Great Britain, “Shucks”, talks about the features of modern drone warfare, his experience of serving in the ranks of the Ukrainian army and his own vision of the russian-Ukrainian war.

1. Came as a tourist – and became a soldier

I came and stayed in Ukraine as a tourist when the war started. And I decided to stay, because all the men were asked to stay. I am not Ukrainian, but I really wanted to help. I started working with NGOs, providing support to the Ukrainian army. I also recorded and published evidence of russia’s criminal attacks on civilian infrastructure. In addition, I took care of hungry dogs and cats that were abandoned or lost their owners in the cities and villages of Donbas.

After two years of helping in this way, I decided to join the Ukrainian army. Because during these two years I saw a lot of evil and damage that russia did and therefore became very motivated to join the armed struggle.

But I did a lot before joining the Ukrainian army. On my own initiative and at my own expense, I learned to fly drones for a month, took a two-week course in tactical medicine, and learned to handle weapons for two weeks, because I had no military background.

2. Training and motivation

When I joined the International Legion, I was given all the necessary equipment. In general, in the Ukrainian army you will receive everything you need. Equipment is not a problem here. The International Legion, where I started my service, gave me very good basic training and became a good start for me. Then I joined the 25th brigade.

At the beginning of my service, I went through many different training courses, including specialized ones. There were many different interesting and difficult training exercises. As a result, I was satisfied, because I benefited a lot from the training. Now I feel like a truly versatile soldier. I can be an infantryman, I can work with drones: launch, program, fight them.

Anyone who joins the military needs to think about what role you will play and how you can be useful. Only you know your skills and your potential, and most importantly – your motivation and the work you want to do. You need to explain it clearly and, as a rule, they will be happy to accommodate you, because it suits everyone. If you are ready and motivated to do a certain job, then it is very likely that you will be given such an opportunity. I was pleasantly surprised by how flexible the command is to provide a foreign volunteer with the work they want.

3. Drone War

A guy I worked with in an NGO told me that the best way to be useful in a war is to become a drone pilot. So I gave it my all and went through both simulator and real school training.

I worked with drones in various positions. I started as a pilot, but I was more drawn to engineering. I learned to program. I programmed drones for missions, prepared them for combat missions. It is a complex technical job, but very interesting and useful. You need to be able to work with radios, understand electronics. This area is constantly changing and improving. This is a truly exciting time for drones.

There are two key areas in the drone race: attack and defense. Attack is developing faster now. We know how to attack better than how to defend. That is why it is a difficult time. But it is precisely in such dynamics that there is a great opportunity for innovation. If you come up with ideas, even simple ones, and have an unconventional view, you can be very useful. I have seen more than once when someone says “what if we did it like this?” — and it works!

Technology changes every three months. Optical drones have changed everything. A new race has begun. Optics require new solutions. We are no longer thinking only about electronic warfare, but also about kinetic countermeasures. We cannot get stuck in old technologies. We need new solutions to protect our infantry.

I was in the infantry myself and I know: drones save our lives because they stop the russian infantry.

I played a lot of computer games. And I noticed the correlation between gamers and drone pilots. If you are really good at playing computer games, you can become a good drone pilot. You can learn in a few months and be very useful.

 

4. Why is it important to learn Ukrainian

Knowledge of the Ukrainian language is really important. Therefore, if there is any way to improve your level of knowledge, then use it. Because it is really important and helps. If you do not do this, then your command will make sure that there is always an interpreter with you in the unit. But knowing Ukrainian is an advantage. Especially important is the vocabulary, which is necessary for completing missions and for communicating in stressful situations.

Leadership opportunities completely depend on your team. If you, like me, are in a Ukrainian team, and your level of Ukrainian is insufficient, then you will not be a commander. But if you are in a team of foreigners, then you can become a sergeant, even without knowing Ukrainian.

5. About Ukraine and the importance of resisting russian aggression

The longer you are in Ukraine, the more you want to stay here. I have been here for a long time, and for about three and a half years I consider Ukraine my home. I am now defending people who care about me. And I want to stay here after the war. I think that many people who came here to fight for freedom have the same desire. They want to be part of Ukraine after the war, because they dedicated so much to it, fought so much for it, got to know and love Ukrainian culture and identity - given all this, there is a desire to stay.

Almost every foreign volunteer I have met here believes that this is a war that will be seen in history as a war of good against evil.

russian ruler Putin says that he is defending some "traditional values". But the truth is that he is leading a country that is stagnant. Real progress is in the West. Not only technological, but also social, moral. Ukraine wants to be part of Europe because that is where it sees its future. russia is a country of obscurantism and stagnation. That is why Ukrainians are resisting russia. With the development of technology, especially AI, it is important that governments are democratic. When a tyrant subjugates his country and then attacks a neighboring one, it is truly dangerous. If people like Putin remain in power, and modern technology only strengthens them, it threatens the future of all humanity. Therefore, for me, it is not just about protecting Ukraine, not only about protecting democracy, but even about protecting humanity.

The United States has agreed with NATO and the European Union to resume and accelerate arms supplies to Ukraine. Having failed to persuade Russia to make peace, Washington has set its sights on forcing Russian leader Putin to end the war. This situation could open up new opportunities for the Ukrainian army to repel Russian aggression.

As the US president said during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, they managed to agree on a new scheme for supplying arms to Ukraine. According to Trump, the US will send Ukraine “a variety of military equipment,” which the EU will pay for.

First of all, we are talking about the supply of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems and missiles for them. According to President Trump, “some of them will arrive very soon – in fact, within a few days.” He also noted that “there is one country that has 17 Patriots ready to be sent,” without specifying which country (military analysts suggest that it could be Spain).

These are very relevant supplies for Ukraine. After all, Russia is terrorizing peaceful Ukrainian cities far from the front line with ballistic missile strikes and long-range drones. Thanks to anti-aircraft missile systems, Ukrainians will feel safer.

Other types of weapons and ammunition were not officially reported. However, Mark Rutte assured that Ukraine will receive “a truly huge amount of military equipment, both for air defense and missiles, ammunition.” The NATO Secretary General also said that he was in contact with many countries that intend to join this agreement, in particular, he mentioned Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Canada. He also noted that NATO will work to supply the most necessary weapons and ammunition for Ukrainians.

Several American media outlets reported that this concerns not only defensive, but also offensive types of weapons. According to the American news portal Axios, within the framework of the scheme for supplying Ukraine with American weapons, the United States plans to sell weapons worth about $ 10 billion to NATO allies. https://www.axios.com/2025/07/14/trump-missiles-ukraine-weapons-attack-russia These include air defense systems, artillery shells and long-range missiles that can reach deep into Russian territory.

According to the American publication The Washington Post, there is also talk of supplying missiles with which Ukrainian troops could strike deep into the aggressor's territory. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/07/14/trump-ukraine-war-missiles-russia-arms-package/ According to informed sources, during a recent conversation with the president of Ukraine, the US president asked why Kyiv had not struck Moscow, and added that Ukraine should put more pressure on Russian ruler Putin, in particular, through strikes on the Russian capital Moscow and the second most important Russian city of St. Petersburg. “We can, if you give us weapons,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy replied.

Recall that in early June the US decided to suspend the supply of some weapons to Ukraine. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/01/pentagon-munitions-ukraine-halt-00436048 Obviously, this was supposed to make Ukraine more compliant in the ceasefire negotiations initiated by the US president. However, it turned out that Moscow does not want a ceasefire. Having not seen any real steps towards peace from the Russian ruler Vladimir Putin, the American president changed his position. The British publication The Guardian called President Trump's decision on new arms supplies to Ukraine a historic turn in his policy. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/15/tuesday-briefing-what-trumps-massive-weapons-deal-for-ukraine-means-for-the-war-and-for-putin

It should also be said that the statement on new arms supplies to Ukraine was made against the background of the actual failure of the Russian summer offensive. https://joinuarmy.org/en/all-news/heavy-losses-with-minimal-gains/ In these conditions, the increase in arms supplies creates favorable conditions not only to completely stop the enemy's offensive, but also to deal him powerful counterattacks.

Ukraine is inviting even more foreign volunteers to take part in hostilities amid increased US arms supplies.

The other day, repelling Russian aggression, the Ukrainian military conducted an unprecedented operation. Fighters of the 3rd Assault Brigade attacked enemy positions in the Kharkiv region, cleared them and took the occupiers prisoner exclusively with the help of FPV drones and ground robotic complexes. The 3rd Assault Brigade emphasizes that this is the first case in history when robots and drones captured an enemy position and prisoners.

First, the FPV and the kamikaze robot struck the enemy fortified position. The next robot was already approaching the half-destroyed dugout when the surviving Russian soldiers, in order to avoid being blown up, announced their surrender. Then the drones showed the surviving occupiers how to safely approach the Ukrainian positions where the Russians were taken prisoner.

– The positions that were twice not subject to adjacent units were repulsed by our robots, thanks to clearly planned offensive actions, - the Third Assault Brigade emphasizes. - The cleared fortifications and the forest strip were occupied by our forces. In confirmation, the 3rd Assault Brigade’s Facebook page published a video of the battle shot by drones and an interview with the fighters of the unmanned systems company who led the attack. https://www.facebook.com/ab3.army/videos/671023495990476

– First, we were supposed to attack, and then the infantry unit was supposed to occupy and clear the enemy position, - the fighters of the unmanned systems company say. – And it turned out that the infantry entered that position in literally 15 minutes without any fight at all. Our example showed that with the help of robotic complexes, you can not only attack the enemy, but also take him prisoner. Our work allows us not to put infantry under bullets.

Repelling Russian aggression, the Ukrainian Defense Forces are actively developing and using the latest high-tech weapons, effectively striking the enemy. Foreign volunteers serving in the Ukrainian army can also master the most modern types of weapons. Volunteer from Colombia "Smith" https://joinuarmy.org/en/all-feedbacks/smith/ , who became a drone operator, says:

- I learned many things that were impossible to learn in Colombia. I fly Mavic and FPV drones. I like FPV more because you control them through glasses - it's more convenient than looking at the screen, like in Mavic. FPV are very fast: reconnaissance ones fly up to 120 km/h, and with explosives - about 60-70 km/h, which is also very fast. FPV drones provide much more effective support for infantry than Mavic, which is used more for reconnaissance. When infantry sees drones nearby, it is very encouraging. They know that they are cared for and will be supported at a critical moment. This inspires confidence among soldiers, especially foreigners, because this war is very different from what we have known so far. Drones not only strike or transmit artillery coordinates, but also deliver water or food to positions, and this is very important.

Ground robotic systems are also used not only for attacks on fortified enemy positions, but also for supply and evacuation. Thus, in May of this year, soldiers of the 13th Charter Brigade conducted a successful operation to evacuate a wounded comrade using a ground robotic complex. The Ukrainian logistic robot "Targan" ("cockroach"), converted into a tow truck, covered a distance of 12 km and delivered the wounded man to the evacuation point.

Recently, the command of the Land Forces of the Ukrainian Army presented four multifunctional models of ground robotic complexes: "Lyut" ("rage" – armed with a machine gun, designed for attacks), "Gnome" (mining and raid operations), and evacuation "Termit" and "Ardal". Active development and implementation of new high-tech weapons systems continues in Ukraine.

“Russia’s summer offensive stalls”, states the British newspaper The Telegraph. “Moscow’s campaign to break into more Ukrainian territory falters just weeks after starting”. The Ukrainian army exhausted the Russian summer offensive at its very beginning, inflicting significant losses on the enemy. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/29/russia-summer-offensive-fizzling-out-ukraine-putin

If in the spring Russian propagandists spoke of the rosy prospects of the summer offensive, now they are forced to admit a high level of losses with minor successes. In order to somehow embellish the gloomy reality, they are forced to interpret the capture of small settlements as if they were great victories from the Second World War.

“The Russians are in a difficult position, given the level of losses they are suffering,” says Nick Reynolds, a combat expert at the British Royal United Forces Institute, quoted by The Telegraph.

Indeed, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the first half of 2025, the sanitary and irreversible losses of the Russian army personnel amounted to 230,180 soldiers. Conventionally, this is the number of more than 19 divisions. https://mod.gov.ua/en/news/over-19-divisions-and-8-222-artillery-systems-lost-by-russian-army-in-six-months

Over the past 6 months of this year, the enemy has lost 1,311 tanks and 2,885 armored combat vehicles. 1,311 vehicles are equivalent to 42 tank battalions. Also, since the beginning of this year, more than 21,021 units of enemy automotive equipment have been destroyed or damaged. For comparison: for the entire year of 2024, the Russian Army lost 22,000 cars and tankers. The defense forces continue successful counter-battery combat. In the first half of the year, our defenders destroyed or damaged 8,222 units of enemy artillery systems.

In June 2025 alone, the total losses of the occupiers in manpower amounted to 32,420 people, 111 tanks, 272 armored combat vehicles, 1,227 artillery systems, 26 MLRS, 17 air defense systems, 3,371 units of automobiles and 18 units of special equipment.

The destruction of various important objects of the Russian aggressor, which are far from the line of combat contact, also continues. On the morning of July 1, long-range drones of the Security Service of Ukraine struck the Kupol plant in the Russian city of Izhevsk, which produces the Tor, Osa air defense systems and Harpy drones. The distance to the target is 1,300 km. If the Russians terrorize the civilian population with their missile and drone attacks, the Ukrainians are targeting the enemy's military facilities.

Thus, based on the results of the first summer month, we can say that the Russians have not come close to even their most modest goal – the complete occupation of the Ukrainian Donbas and access to its administrative borders. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to restrain the enemy offensive in all directions, gaining individual tactical victories.

In the fourth year of the war, Ukraine is expanding the recruitment of foreign volunteers for military service. For the first time, such a call was made back in February 2022, when Russia launched full-scale aggression against Ukraine. The process has reached a qualitatively new level after the Center for Recruiting Foreign Citizens began operating in one of the western Ukrainian cities in May of this year, writes the influential English-language publication The Economist. https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/06/19/ukraine-looks-abroad-to-boost-its-manpower?giftId=195626d4-f6bf-448f-87d7-f09e30b9fc1a&utm_campaign=gifted_article 

An information campaign was also launched, initially focusing on Latin American countries. As a result, about a hundred foreign volunteers apply for entry into the Ukrainian Defense Forces every day. Recruits typically pay their own way to Ukraine and receive no preferential treatment over Ukrainian soldiers. But front-line salaries of up to $3,000 a month, about ten times the average in poorer parts of South America, are a strong incentive. For some, fighting for freedom is enough.

Ukraine hopes to recruit several thousand new soldiers from abroad each month, according to Lieutenant Oleksiy Bezhevets, the Defense Ministry official who oversees the program. That’s important because Ukraine is about a quarter of Russia’s population, and therefore has fewer of its own citizens to enlist in the armed forces.

The recruitment program works by countering the strong hostile influence that Russia has in countries in the global south. Overall, the enemy takes the Ukrainian recruitment program seriously. Lieutenant Bezhevets says Russian intelligence regularly tries to infiltrate and obtain information about international recruits.

Journalists also spoke with foreign volunteers who already have service experience. They spoke about the peculiarities of adaptation, military service, and modern warfare.

More and more foreign volunteers who joined the Ukrainian Defense Forces and defended Ukraine from Russian aggression are receiving a combatant certificate (or, as foreign volunteers themselves often say, a “blue book”). This status is given to those who performed combat or special tasks in a combat zone. Foreign volunteers have equal rights and obligations with Ukrainian military personnel, and therefore have the same right to receive a combatant certificate.

Ukraine has a veteran policy that is rapidly improving. Thanks to this, combatants are provided with a number of significant preferences.

Veterans have the right to free travel on city and suburban transport, as well as a number of benefits for using other types of transport.

Ukraine cares about the health of those who defended it with weapons in their hands. In view of this, veterans have the right to free:

- receiving prescription drugs,

- dentures,

- annual medical examination with the involvement of necessary specialists,

- priority care and hospitalization in hospitals.

Participants in hostilities and their children (in both cases, persons under the age of 23) are provided with state targeted support for obtaining vocational and higher education in state and municipal educational institutions. In addition, legislative changes are being introduced in Ukraine aimed at simplifying the procedure for obtaining Ukrainian citizenship for foreign volunteers with the status of a combatant.

Participants in hostilities are people who have a very high authority in Ukrainian society. Those who, with weapons in their hands, defended Ukrainian land from the Russian invasion are treated with great respect.

But the benefits of the Ukrainian blue book do not end at the Ukrainian border! After all, this document confirms participation in the Russian-Ukrainian war, which is not only the largest, but also the most technologically advanced conflict of our time. In Ukraine, methods of conducting combat operations are constantly being improved. Those who have passed through the crucible of this war have unique experience of modern combat operations. And therefore, in the future, they have good opportunities to successfully get a job in the armies of other countries or in private military or security companies operating in different parts of the world.

The other day, a volunteer from Peru, Abel Sender with the call sign "Wolf", received a blue book of a combat participant and a thank-you note from the command of the 23rd separate mechanized brigade. According to him, who served in other armies for many years, it was in Ukraine that he received a qualitatively higher level of military training and skills in conducting modern warfare. This, he jokes, allowed him to become, as it were, a "military master". We sincerely congratulate the soldier on receiving a certificate of a combat participant. Thank you for your conscientious service and we wish you health, endurance, and victories in the service of the Ukrainian people!

Foreign volunteers from Asian countries who want to join the defense of Ukraine should follow a number of important recommendations for a safe trip. One of the key documents is an official invitation issued through recruiters - it is this that helps to avoid problems at the borders when traveling through Europe.

The memo describes in detail:

• Routes from Asian countries to Poland and Romania with transfers at safe airports (without transit through the UAE and Doha);

• How to act correctly after arrival: bus to Warsaw, buying tickets, crossing the border and arriving in Ukraine;

• Important reminders: civilian clothes, constant contact with the recruiter, maintaining confidentiality and mandatory compliance with instructions;

• Expected living expenses before signing the contract (from $60 for the entire period), training conditions and support after joining the unit.

This route has been tested and proven - following the instructions will ensure you a safe and peaceful journey to Ukraine.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine are a key component of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, which, together with the National Guard of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and other units, defend Ukraine. According to the Constitution, they are obliged to defend the statehood of Ukraine, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Armed Forces of Ukraine ensure the deterrence of armed aggression against Ukraine, the protection of air, surface and underwater space, and also participate in measures aimed at combating terrorism.

History

The Kievan state, better known as Kievan Rus, had a strong army. It included a professional army of the prince and a people's militia . In addition, under the control of Kievan Rus were the tribes of the Black Hoods, who defended the southern borders of the state with their cavalry. The army of Kievan Rus actively fought with the eastern nomadic tribes and the Byzantine Empire.

The Cossack state of the 15th–19th centuries was created from the army. It was a unique organization that can be called a military democracy. All issues related to the planning and organization of campaigns were decided at the general council. At the same time, there was also a military leadership, which was elected by the Cossacks. The Cossacks were considered one of the best warriors in Europe at that time. They successfully fought with the Moscow principality, the Tatars, Turkey, Poland, and took part in many European wars as volunteers.

Zaporizhian Sich - a military state that was founded in the lower reaches of the Dnieper River, for a time it was one of the strongest armies in the region. The Cossacks were distinguished by unsurpassed courage and resilience. The basis of the army was cavalry.

During World War I, Ukraine was divided between several empires. After the creation of the Ukrainian People's Republic, its army was created. In addition, during this period, units of the Free and Red Cossacks, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army of Father Makhno, etc. fought on the territory of Ukraine. In the western part of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Galician Army was created.

During World War II, about 2.5 million Ukrainians fought in the ranks of the Red Army. In addition, in 1942 - 1960, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army fought for Ukraine's independence on the territory of Ukraine.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, independent Ukraine inherited one of the most powerful military formations in Europe and the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. However, without control over strategic warheads, Ukraine was forced to abandon nuclear weapons.

In 1994, Ukraine agreed to transfer these weapons to Russia, in accordance with the Budapest Memorandum, for disposal and became a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in exchange for economic compensation and guarantees from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom to respect Ukraine's independence and sovereignty within its existing borders.

Russian-Ukrainian War

The Russo-Ukrainian war began in 2014 with Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and subsequent aggression in Donbas, where Russian military and pro-Russian militants seized parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In response, the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which were then poorly equipped and disorganized after a long decline, began to rebuild their combat capability.

In 2014–2021, the Armed Forces of Ukraine underwent a profound transformation: the level of training was increased, equipment was modernized, and cooperation with NATO countries began. Thanks to this, Ukraine was able to deter the enemy on the demarcation line in the Joint Forces Operation zone.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion. The Armed Forces of Ukraine organized a counterattack, defended Kyiv, Kharkiv, and other major cities, and later launched successful counteroffensives in the north, east, and south of Ukraine. The war continues as of 2025, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine remain a key force of resistance and defense of state sovereignty.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine consist of units of the Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Airborne Assault Forces, Special Operations Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, and Unmanned Systems Forces. Each of these units has its own functions and performs combat missions.

Unique pioneers

The Defense Forces of Ukraine for the first time in world history:

• Destroyed a ship with a naval drone ;

• Destroyed a submarine with a cruise missile;

• They started shooting down Russian drones ;

• Destroyed a fighter jet with a naval drone using an air-to-air missile;

• Strategic bombers were destroyed by FPV drones , conducting a unique special operation "spider web".
 

Now the Ukrainian army is one of the strongest in the world. It is actively opposing the Russian army, which is much larger in size. Russian losses as of early June 2025 were: 1 million soldiers and officers, 414 aircraft. 337 helicopters, 10,915 tanks, 28 ships and tankers, 28,934 artillery systems, 51,348 vehicles and tanks with fuel and lubricants.

Today, the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression is still ongoing.

Do you want to be a part of history? Join the brave people and fill out the questionnaire at the link.

Ukraine is not only war. Ukraine is a very large and diverse country, where there is a lot of interesting things. Here are just 10 facts that may interest you.

1. The largest in Europe

Within its constitutional borders, Ukraine is the largest state that is located entirely in Europe landmass . For example, France is larger than Ukraine only if you take into account its overseas possessions.

2. The center of Europe

In the village of Dilove, Rakhiv district, Transcarpathian region of Ukraine, the geographical center of Europe is located. This was established by Austrian topographers at the end of the 19th century.

3. Agrarian Eldorado

About 60% of the territory of Ukraine is consists of black soil - one of the most fertile and suitable for agriculture soils (a fifth of the world's black soil). Therefore, even during the war, Ukraine remains one of the most important exporters of various grains and products of its processing.

4. The largest wings – aviation giant with a tragic fate

The Ukrainian design bureau at the Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing enterprise manufactured the world's largest aircraft, the AN-225 Mriya (it was destroyed during the Russian invasion in early 2022).

5. Rocket and space state

Ukraine has an extensive rocket and space production. Once upon a time, Ukraine was the main missile forge of the USSR, where military and space launch vehicles were produced. In the 2000s, Ukraine cooperated with Latin American countries within the framework of the Sea Launch space project to launch commercial satellites.

Russian aggression against Ukraine has made adjustments and instead of space missiles, Ukraine is increasing the production of combat missiles. The Ukrainian anti-ship missile Neptune, which destroyed the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, has shown high efficiency.

6. Woman with a sword

The Motherland, located in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, is the largest monument in Europe and one of the largest in the world. The sculpture of a woman is 1.3 times taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York and more than twice as tall as Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

7. Drone pilots

During the repulsion of Russian aggression, Ukrainian soldiers showed themselves to be unsurpassed masters of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and boats. With their help, they destroyed targets not only at the front, but also deep behind enemy lines. (We will tell you about the military know-how and military achievements of Ukrainians separately).

8. Fast food from different angles

A variety of fast food restaurants and street food are very popular in Ukraine. Both Ukrainian and international cuisines are widely represented here. In the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, on Pryvokzalnaya Square, there is one of the 3 most visited McDonald's restaurants in the world.

9. The main meat of Ukraine

Ukraine is the leading producer and exporter of chicken meat in Europe. Ukrainian cuisine has a lot of chicken dishes, which are relatively cheap here (we will talk about meat dishes of Ukrainian cuisine separately). One of the most famous Ukrainian chicken dishes in the world is the crispy and juicy Kiev cutlet.

10. Borscht and the "battle" for it

Borscht is the main dish of Ukrainian cuisine and a kind of culinary calling card of Ukraine. Therefore, it is not surprising that Russians, who encroach on Ukrainian territories and Ukrainian identity, also tried to appropriate it. In 2019, the Russian authorities organized an information campaign in which they positioned borscht as a dish of Russian cuisine. But Ukrainians have convincingly proven that this is a uniquely Ukrainian dish. Therefore, UNESCO (the UN specialized agency for culture) recognized Ukrainian borscht as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. There are about a hundred recipes (half-jokingly they say that each housewife has her own recipe) and dozens of varieties of this dish. Be sure to try it and form your own impression of Ukrainian borscht.

Ukrainians will be hospitably happy and sincerely grateful to you, if in this difficult time for their country, you come and join the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

The Commissioner for Recruitment of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Bezhevets gave an interview to the popular Brazilian YouTube blogger Ricardo Albuquerque Pinto, in which he answered questions about the number of Brazilian volunteers, the features of registration and training, and also noted that information about possible peace negotiations did not affect the process of recruiting foreign volunteers to the ranks of the Ukrainian army.

- How are Brazilian volunteers doing in Ukraine?

- We have seen a large increase in the number of applications from Brazilian volunteers in recent months. These are literally thousands of applications every month. So, first of all, I would like to thank the Brazilian people for responding to the call and joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

However, there may be delays in responding to volunteer applications, as there are a lot of applications. We are working to speed up processing. However, it may happen that some candidates will have to wait several days, maybe a week, to receive an invitation to an online interview and then proceed to the next stage.

In general, the online registration system works very effectively. Many of the people we interviewed a month ago have already arrived in Ukraine and started the procedure for preparing documents for military service. It takes about a week, sometimes two. Then they go to a training center, where they undergo thorough military training. This process is well-established and works very well.

– Do Brazilian volunteers meet the expectations of the Ukrainian army?

– Yes, absolutely. Many of them are well-trained, motivated, have experience in the army, police or security services. They already have basic knowledge of weapons. And this is very good, because it is easier for them to undergo training. We just need to teach them the command structure and how to operate in a modern war, in the conditions that are now on the front lines in Ukraine.

We are giving them a unique experience of a modern war — the experience of World War III, which has already begun here, in Ukraine. And I believe that this will be useful for Brazil — because its citizens here are gaining practical experience of modern combat.

– Regarding the current situation — there have been reports of peace talks initiated by US President Trump. Is there any pause, a truce expected? What is your opinion?

– This must be clearly explained: the war continues, and we will continue to need the support of volunteers from all over the world.

Yes, the negotiations are continuing, but given the history of negotiations with Russia, it is obvious that they do not have a sincere intention to reach an agreement. As our President Volodymyr Zelensky says, the Russian aggressor is simply trying to gain time to strengthen its positions and continue the illegal occupation of part of the territory of Ukraine.

Ukraine is ready for a full and indefinite ceasefire. We have stated this repeatedly. But for this to become a reality, both sides must be ready. Today, only Ukraine is ready, and Russia is not. That is why we continue to invite volunteers to join the Ukrainian army, strengthen our forces and continue the fight against Russia, defending our state.

– So, you continue to recruit Brazilians, other South Americans and people from all over the world, right?

– Yes, absolutely. Currently, volunteers from over a hundred countries serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is already a global initiative.

For the first time in the history of Ukraine, we have created a Center for Recruiting Foreign Volunteers. This is a special structure for attracting foreigners, as well as for providing them with support once they have arrived — both legal and social. We help them go through all the procedures.