In the first months of the war, around 400 French people fought alongside the Ukrainians. At least eight died in the fighting and only a handful are still fighting there.
Stryka (nom de guerre) is 38 years old, he has 11 years of military experience in the French army with missions in Afghanistan, Lebanon and the Central African Republic. But today he is fighting on the Robotyne front in southern Ukraine, one of the most active in the country. “It’s 100 times more intense than what I experienced, dhe says. It’s like the First World War but with today’s technology.”
For four months, Stryka has been fighting alongside the Ukrainians, on the front, under a deluge of fire from the Russian lines. “I feel like they shoot forever. They can hammer us 24 hours a day, while on the Ukrainian side there is very little ammunition.” he says.
“When it hits, it’s precise, but unfortunately, it’s not effective enough”
Stryka, French fighter in Ukraineat franceinfo
To counter this powerful artillery, he and two of his comrades carried out commando missions behind Russian lines during which they sometimes spent ten days hiding, avoiding drones and attacking at the opportune moment. “Here, the drones shoot on sight so it’s very easy to die”testifies Stryka.
He risks his life for the Ukrainians
When the question of going to fight in Ukraine arose, Stryka did not hesitate: “It was horrible to stay behind a television while I was a soldier and one of my first missions was to provide aid to a certain population.”
He can also count on the support of his parents and his wife who, despite the worry, understand this need for adrenaline. “Riding imminent death injects you with adrenaline and endorphins but at a dose 1,000 times greater than what you can feel in your entire life”he describes.
In a few weeks, Stryka will be back in France, for a well-deserved rest with his family, before returning to the front alongside the Ukrainians.