His gaze has changed. We think we discern a crack, a sadness. He always smiles but no longer has, when he tells stories of war, his illuminated face he was displayed before. “The past year was the hardest of the three years of conflict”he whispers. Two injuries, a moment of depression, very difficult military operations, sometimes missed, and above all “Hell” of the loss of the brothers in arms, the funerals, the women and the grieving children.
“John”, as he chose to be called for this testimony, is an elite fighter. Like the other soldiers met – without control of their command or a press officer – he has already confided in the Worldover the war, frankly. The last time was under another name. He is now forbidden to mention his identity, or even his war name. Since the last meeting, he joined one of the secret services of Ukraine.
His change of assignment has not fundamentally changed John's life: he still fights in an assault unit, often on the front line. The difference is that integrated into a prestigious secret service unit, it is now based in kyiv and is likely to be sent through the country for the most perilous missions, as well as in Russia.
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Source: Lemonde