It’s hard to imagine what it feels like to have your dreams torn away, dreams of family, career, adventure, and a peaceful future. But for many Ukrainian soldiers, these dreams were brutally interrupted when Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022, thrust them into a war they never asked for.
Three years after the invasion, AFP spoke to soldiers at the frontlines, each carrying their own stories of hope, loss, and resilience. These are the dreams that have been stolen, and the haunting reality of what they’ve had to sacrifice.
Moroz’s Dream of Fatherhood
Moroz, known by his war name, never imagined his life would take such a turn. A 30-year-old originally from the west of Ukraine, he was a driver before being mobilised in 2023. Now, he drives military vehicles in the heat of battle, evacuating and delivering supplies. His gentle smile contrasts with the war zone he finds himself in.
“Before the army called, I had dreams of starting a family,” says Moroz. “A wife, children, a home.” But with the war raging, those dreams feel out of reach. “It’s scary to think about a family at a time like this,” he admits. Yet, he holds onto hope. “When the war is over, that’s when we’ll start living.”
Alina’s Desire for Revenge
Alina, a 45-year-old military medic, joined the army in 2018, but for her and many Ukrainians, the war didn’t start in 2022, it began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea. As the years have passed, Alina has watched as dreams of a peaceful life slipped further away.
“If there had been no war,” she says, “I would have had a family, a house, a business… a happy, peaceful life.” Now, Alina has taken on the dangerous role of training to be a sniper. “At 45, I’ve already lived my life. Now, my only mission is revenge,” she says with a hardened resolve.
Oleksandr’s Mixed Emotions
Oleksandr’s journey into the military started in 2014 when he fought against separatists in Donetsk. He spent years in the frontlines, before a “smoke break” landed him in prison for car theft. When the army opened its ranks to inmates in 2024, Oleksandr saw a way out.
Now, in the “Alkatraz” assault battalion, Oleksandr reflects on the life he thought he would have. “I wanted to start a construction company. I wanted to be a father,” he says. But he’s come to accept that peace may be a long way off. Still, he admits with a mix of regret and gratitude, “In a way, the war helped me… otherwise, I’d still be in prison.”
Oleg’s Dream of Climbing the Matterhorn
Oleg, 33, was a photojournalist before being called to serve. The press officer of the 24th brigade, Oleg was once a keen mountain climber with dreams of scaling the Matterhorn in the Alps. That dream faded when he became a father and when the pandemic hit. But now, amid the chaos of war, Oleg has pushed those ambitions even further away.
But he hasn’t given up entirely. “It will come,” he says, clinging to the hope that after the war, the mountains will still be waiting for him.
Artem’s ‘Erased’ Future
For Artem, a company commander in the 93rd Brigade, the war has erased everything he had planned. “I wanted to buy an apartment. I wanted to be a present father to my son,” he recalls, his laughter bitter.
The war has taken his social life as well. “Many friends moved to Europe. Others stayed, but I don’t have the chance to speak to them anymore,” he says. As a psychologist working in the humanitarian sector before the invasion, Artem had a different future ahead of him. But now, he feels his pre-war identity is lost. Despite the heartache, Artem holds onto hope. “Maybe one day, peace will bring it all back.”
The Weight of Dreams Deferred
For these soldiers, and so many others, the war has stolen more than just their homes and their families, it’s stolen their futures. But amid the destruction, they hold on to a sliver of hope, hoping that one day, they’ll be able to rebuild, reclaim, and live the lives they were meant to lead.
