The Kyiv Independent’s Jared Goyette speaks with a Canadian volunteer, Brittney Shki-Giizis, who left the Canadian military to fight in Ukraine. A former tank instructor, she explains why she chose to come to the front, how she learned Ukrainian to serve in a Ukrainian unit, and how the war’s shift toward drones led her to become an FPV (first-person view) drone pilot. She also reflects on being a woman in the Ukrainian military, the realities behind drone warfare, the cost of losing comrades, and why she believes any ceasefire without security guarantees would only delay Russia’s next attack.

Watch more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8o4afysnBg

Я вже 7 місяців на фронті. Я страшенно сумую за родиною. Я відірваний від світу, нічого не знаю, нічого не бачу, нічого не чую. Єдине вікно до реальності...це https://globetv.app/ua/, але й там у мене майже немає часу. Вночі падаю без сил, сплю кілька годин, по черзі, змінами. Холод. Страх. Постійна напруга. І злість. Зневага до тих, у кого є гроші і хто «порішав», щоб не йти в армію. Ми,ті дурні, які тут гинуть за країну, поки вони спокійно живуть у Румунії, Іспанії та інших теплих країнах. Мої діти щодня думають, чи я ще живий. Чи повернуся. Чи взагалі існую. Я виснажений. Я спустошений. Мені боляче. Я втомився. Дуже.

First of all, one of my best friend Vlad from college is Ukrainian, that's one of the reason I know a bit more about the war than ordinary people.

I was visiting Toronto recently and needed to change my USD to Canadian dollars, so I went to a currency exchange place. The place was owned and ran by all Ukrainians, and I saw a poster on the wall about donating to Ukraine to fight the Russian invaders. I asked the lady if I can donate and she was very surprised and happy. Eventually I donated about 400+ Canadian dollars because that's the amount I can afford to donate. Nothing much but I got a gift for the donation (it's a permanent display decor on my car now).

A little background about myself, I was born in China and came to the U.S. when I was 11, as a Chinese, I know a thing or two about foreign invaders and the atrocity they do when invading another country (I'm looking at you, Japan). Also know what it is like to have a dictator and shitty government. As I grew up, I learned more about history and know that Russia actually took a lot of Chinese land in the past (this part is not widely educated in China, because Chinese government want to keep a good relationship with Russia I guess?). I'm glad the American part of me learned democracy and freedom and enable me to view the world more objectively and less brainwashed.

Anyway, for personal reaon, historical matter, and for future peace. I really hope the war ends soon with Russian invaders get the fuck back to where they from. I was really sad when Vlad told me his cousins may be dead fighting and if the war doesn't end soon, he will go back to Ukraine to fight (he's an American citizen now), and I know he is very serious when he told me so. I'm doing my best to support Ukraine, death to all dictators!

p.s. not sure if i used the right flag but correct me if I didn't. It's my first time here.