War against Ukraine: From civilian to combatant

“Volunteers” are currently everywhere in Ukraine. Few are doing the job they did before the war. Some also take on military duties.

The nets of the basketball hoops are pretty tattered. It’s been a few weeks since schoolchildren played here – in a high school gymnasium in the heart of downtown Dnipro. Now hundreds of men are training here in balaclavas and camouflage uniforms, with weapons – without ammunition.

“Everything to do with the military is completely new to me,” says Kaspar. He was an ordinary businessman, in wholesale, for numerous companies in Ukraine.

Kaspar got hold of one of the coveted places for military training. He is now part of the civil defense of the Dnipro region, around 4,500 people are applying for this training. That’s three times more applicants than there are places available, says Alexander. He’s the boss here for the volunteer fighters.

Little experience with weapons

In fact, most would never have held a gun until recently, but all are 100 percent ready to defend their city. “We know every corner of our city, we can be much more successful with it than people from outside,” explains Alexander. “Even if the soldiers have more weapons, we simply know every corner here, that’s our advantage.”

The volunteer fighters do not form an independent unit of the Ukrainian army, they are deployed individually as needed. Some have already been deployed in Dnipro and the surrounding area, says Alexander. He was not allowed to say where and what they did. But 99 percent of everyday life for the volunteer fighters currently consists of training.

“I would have gone into battle right away from day one,” says Kaspar, the businessman. “But during the training, I then understood that we were almost a burden for the soldiers at the front. So I really wanted to continue the course in order to be able to do more and damage the enemy as much as possible.”

A few weeks of focused training

In fact, most men in the gym have been training for weeks. They learn to fly drones, shoot, do running exercises and learn first aid. Most of the women and children of the participants have fled Dnipro, the men are expecting the worst: “The war started on February 24, I have no idea what’s going on in the minds of these creatures who are attacking our country,” says Kaspar. “Whatever else will happen, tomorrow or after – I just want to be prepared.”

His three children and his wife now live outside Ukraine: “I just want to say thank you here. The West is really showing its human side in taking in all the refugees. Our families can now live there, in safety.” Of course, his children wish he was by their side now. A completely new life, a new language, none of that is easy for her. “But, I taught my children that from an early age: there are just things in life that you have to do.”

Then Kaspar turns around and continues training. Several rockets have landed in Dnipro in recent weeks. The front is now getting closer and closer to his hometown.