Ukrainian warrior poet describes veterans' exhaustion
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Voice of America
Ukrainian poet Yaryna Chornohuz, a sergeant and drone operator in the army, describes soldiers exhausted by more than four years of war and argues that veterans should lead the post-war period. She spoke during a tour of the United States, as more than two million Ukrainians have served in the armed forces, according to Voice of America.
More than two million Ukrainian veterans are currently living with the consequences of the war, which has lasted more than four years, Voice of America reports. Yaryna Chornohuz, a Ukrainian poet, drone operator and sergeant in the Ukrainian Marine Corps, describes soldiers as « tired and exhausted », particularly those who remain on the front lines for long periods without rotation.
Chornohuz and her husband served for seven and nine years respectively in the Ukrainian armed forces. Travelling in the United States to speak about the war and read her poems, she advocates the idea of a post-war Ukraine led by veterans, whom she describes as capable of helping build the country with a commitment to the common good, according to VOA.
The servicemember also discusses the debate over women’s conscription. She says that female mobilisation is not currently being considered, but believes everyone must be prepared to become a soldier if the situation requires it. She says 75,000 women currently serve in the Ukrainian armed forces.
Chornohuz also recounts how she combined her military service with raising her 12-year-old daughter. She explains that she continued caring for her child after night missions when she was deployed near the front and uses poetry to cope with the loss of soldiers around her.
Her testimony comes as American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators meet this week to try to end the conflict. Talks between Russia and Ukraine resumed for a second day on 11 November, after several discussions that began on 9 November.
