Teenagers in Ukraine Armed with Guns Instead of Books: "It's for the Country, but No One Wants to Die"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Sumi Hwang] Teenage boys took up guns instead of books and went to the battlefield to protect Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia.

On the 12th (local time), the British BBC broadcast released interviews with Ukrainian teenage boys who voluntarily joined the fight against the Russian army. It was reported that they were deployed to the front lines after completing three days of basic military training in the capital city of Kyiv.

Dmytro Kysilenko (18), who is majoring in economics at university, was deployed to a checkpoint east of Kyiv along with his hometown friend Maksym Luchyk (19). The Russian army is facing them just a few kilometers away from this location.

Dmytro expressed his determination, saying, "If the Russian army reaches Kyiv, this war might be over, so we must stop them here."

When asked if he was afraid, Dmytro replied, "Deep down, I do feel some fear, but that is human nature," adding, "Even if it is for the country, no one wants to die."

Maksym, who is majoring in biology at the same university as Dmytro, told the BBC, "I feel confident because I have learned tactics and martial arts through basic military training and gained sufficient knowledge about what to do on the battlefield."

Half-jokingly, he also said he wants to see the Ukrainian flag flying over the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia.

They are from areas near the Russian border. Their hometowns have been bombed by the Russian army, and their families are still there.

Dmytro's parents know what their son is doing and are proud of him. His father reportedly told Dmytro, "Don't try too hard to become a hero."

Maksym did not specifically inform his parents about what he was doing because he did not want to worry them.

The BBC introduced that Dmytro and Maksym talked about dreams for the future, studies, family, and friends like any other young people. They also joked or laughed loudly to hide their tension.

On the 12th (local time), a shoe factory in Dnipro, a key city in central-eastern Ukraine, was reduced to ruins by a missile attack from Russian forces.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, on the 17th day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, fierce battles continued around Kyiv.

According to the Associated Press, Russian forces advanced to a point just 25 km from downtown Kyiv, while Ukrainian forces fortified the city and vowed to fight to the death.

Although fighting has not yet occurred in the center of Kyiv, gunfights are intensifying in the outskirts adjacent to the city.

In Vasylkiv, a city south of Kyiv, a fuel storage facility caught fire due to a Russian attack. The military airport runway was also damaged and is reported to be inoperable. The New York Times reported that Russian and Ukrainian forces are engaged in urban warfare in Irpin, northwest of Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference that day, "If Russia wants to occupy Kyiv, it will have to eliminate all Ukrainians in the city."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.