Full Story Ukrainian men on how four years of war has changed them
Feb 24, 2026
Shaun Walker, The Guardian’s Central and Eastern Europe correspondent, gives political and military analysis. Tracey McVeigh, veteran conflict reporter, shares intimate interviews with Ukrainian men. They explore how young lives were upended, the strain on relationships and masculinity, brutal winters and frontline injuries, plus the wider strategic stalemate and what might come next.
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DJ Forced Into Military Life After Invasion
- Alex went from DJing in Odesa to being stopped at a checkpoint, conscripted, and put through 60 days of basic training before an office posting in Kyiv.
- His story shows abrupt life change: a carefree summer turned into enforced mobilization and rapid adaptation to military routine.
Male Brotherhood Became A Key Recovery Mechanism
- Men from diverse backgrounds shared that being with other men helped them process trauma and rebuild psychologically.
- Tracey McVeigh observed poets, boxers and students finding solace and meaning through male camaraderie after front-line experiences.
Prisoner Returned To An Unknown Family
- A young soldier spent three years in Russian captivity and returned to find a woman he'd barely known had had his child.
- The abrupt shift from captivity to parenting created intense emotional strain and complicated reintegration.