‘Russians hit my training base last night’ — Ukraine through the eyes of a US Army veteran fighting there

Early Sunday morning, an American veteran now in Ukraine was abruptly awakened by a Russian missile strike on the Yavoriv military training center, where he and other foreigners trying to join the International Legion of Territorial Defense were camped.

“I just remember waking up to my entire tent shaking and then everyone yelling as they ran through the door to the woods,” said the Army veteran, identified by Task & Purpose as “Hieu” at his request. “When I stepped out, I froze in shock for two seconds as I stared in disbelief at the pillar of fire behind the building in front of me. Hearing and seeing another missile impact shocked me back to reality and I ran into the woods away from structures.”

Hieu is one of several readers who responded after Task & Purpose asked veterans headed to, or already in Ukraine to tell their stories. He had only been in Ukraine for a few days when Russian forces launched missiles at Yavoriv, home of a former NATO training center, reportedly killing 35 people.

After he thought the missile attack was over, Hieu ran back into his tent, donned the gear that he had bought for Ukraine, including a helmet, plate carrier with ballistic plates, and an E-Tool. Then rushed towards one of the burning buildings at the training center to see if he could help anyone, he said. Then another missile struck in the distance, so he ran into the woods and began loading ammunition into his magazines to keep himself busy.

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