Heroic Man Risks All for Ukraine: The Untold Story of Will Blackburn
Heroic Efforts in Ukraine
Recalling his trips to the Donbas region — scene of the heaviest and bloodiest fighting against the Russians — he describes the devastation of trees reduced to splintered stumps by artillery, and vehicles ripped to pieces, strewn over the roads.
The Call to Action
Until Putin’s invasion, Will and his Polish wife of 14 years Jula, 49, had been living a quiet life, first in London then, from 2015, in the Baltic coastal town of Sopot, Poland.
A Brave Journey
Will continued to work remotely from Poland, though he regularly returns to the UK.
Unprecedented Times
The day after Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he and Jula noticed their local park packed with unfamiliar elderly men, while its benches were filled with young women crying into their phones.
A New Mission Unfolds
Back then, some young Ukrainians were going to war in their gym kit.
The Turning Point
He was in the Territorial Army from 2000 to 2006 and did a six-month tour of Iraq from late 2003.
A Helping Hand
He was in the Territorial Army from 2000 to 2006 and did a six-month tour of Iraq from late 2003.
A Risky Mission
A local bar owner said they desperately needed boots, socks, helmets, and military clothing.
Return to Ukraine
The smell of human decay hung in the baking summer sun, alongside destroyed Russian Army personnel carriers.
The Price of Freedom
By July, it was trip number four, the most memorable and dramatic, including the field of Ukrainian flags marking the fallen.
The Road Ahead
Will’s employer has always allowed him time off to complete his trips.
Final Thoughts
After speaking to soldiers and civilians, Will is convinced the war is a matter of national survival.
The Call to Action
Will, who has written a book about his experiences, says: “My parents have been very supportive of my trips.
A Lasting Impact
“The War Next Door: My Journeys Into Ukraine, by Will Blackburn (£12.99, Marble Hill Publishers) is out now.