Serving on the frontline in Ukraine as a teenager | BBC Ukrainecast

Here's a detailed summary of the YouTube video transcript:

Key Concepts

• Full-scale invasion: The large-scale military offensive launched by Russia against Ukraine.
• Volunteer: An individual who offers their services without pay, particularly in a time of crisis.
• Stabilization points: Locations where injured individuals are initially treated and stabilized before further medical care.
• Empathetic: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
• Geneva Convention: A set of international treaties that protect people who are not participating in hostilities, including civilians and prisoners of war.
• International Law: A body of law that governs the conduct of states and international organizations.
• Gap year: A period of time, typically a year, taken by a student between finishing secondary school and starting university, often for travel or work.

Sophia's Experience and Perspective

Pre-Invasion Aspirations

Before the full-scale invasion, Sophia had extensive plans for her life. These included:

• Taking pilot lessons.
• Studying at Oxford University in the UK.
• Pursuing archaeology, potentially working in Egypt.
• Traveling extensively, specifically mentioning Yellowstone and US national parks.

Immediate Response to Invasion

At 16, Sophia was too young to legally join the army. She began as a volunteer, assisting in Kyiv with foreign journalists and other volunteers. At 17, she was permitted to work with her mother's battalion during her first vacation.

Shifting Priorities and Mindset

Sophia views her pre-invasion plans as "put on hold" rather than lost dreams. She acknowledges the uncertainty of the war's duration but focuses on living in the present moment and doing her best. She states, "I live in reality and I just want to live in this moment. I don't want to think about what will be one month later, what will be like one year later. I just I just want to do everything what what I can right now."

Challenges of Frontline Work

Sophia describes herself as an "emotional" and "empathetic" person, which she initially feared would make her work with injured individuals difficult. However, she found that the intensity of the situation and the need to focus on the task at hand prevented prolonged emotional distress. She explains that she doesn't spend a lot of time with injured soldiers (typically 30-40 minutes or an hour), handing them over to specialists who work with them for longer periods. She notes that the continuous exposure for these specialists is likely more emotionally challenging. Despite seeing "awful injuries," she states, "I'm okay about. You're fine. Yeah. I saw that some people can't." She attributes this to the necessity of viewing it as "work" and the lack of time for deeper emotional processing during duty.

Motivation and Necessity of Defense

Sophia emphasizes that motivation is not the primary driver in their current situation. She believes there is no choice but to fight, stating, "if we won't do this we will be we will live in Russia." She articulates a strong need to defend her country to preserve Ukrainian identity, culture, and language. She contrasts this with her perception of Russia's treatment of its soldiers, whom she believes are treated as expendable numbers, unlike in Ukraine. Her desire is to live in her own country with her family in peace, and to experience the beauty and culture of Ukraine, much of which she hasn't seen due to her age when the war began.

Personal Gains Amidst War

Despite the sacrifices, Sophia does not feel sad about her teenage years being altered. She expresses happiness at meeting her fiancé on the front lines and is engaged. She also values the friendships she has made, such as with Rebecca and Mina, whom she might not have met otherwise. She views her life as having taken a "different path" but still a valid one, quoting her brigade's advertising: "we are here for live."

The Filmmaker's Project and Perspective

Mission to Preserve Memory

The filmmaker and her producer, Mariana Shafro, initiated their project to "save the memory of these faces of these people who doing a lot who defend our country who defend our freedom." Their mission is to leave a legacy for future generations.

Selection of Characters

Character selection is described as a "soul and heart feeling" rather than a deliberate process. Sophia was chosen based on this intuitive connection.

Significance of Teenage Involvement

The filmmaker highlights the remarkable aspect of teenagers like Sophia being on the front lines, contrasting it with typical teenage experiences globally. The project includes a segment called "children of war," focusing on individuals aged 17 to 21. The filmmaker reveals the tragic loss of one of her characters, who was killed just four days prior to the interview, underscoring the urgency and importance of their work.

The Filmmaker's "Weapon"

The filmmaker views her camera and her ability to connect with subjects as her "weapon." She emphasizes building trust and honesty with her subjects, sharing their experiences by traveling together, sitting in the same cars, and living alongside them.

A Powerful Moment of Observation

The filmmaker recounts a powerful moment where Sophia, while on the front line, was sitting on a chair and studying online for university. Sophia was learning about the Geneva Convention and International Law, while simultaneously hearing and feeling the vibrations of bombing. This juxtaposition of academic study amidst active warfare was a profound experience for the filmmaker.

Fear and Adrenaline on Duty

Sophia states she is not scared while on duty, attributing this to the lack of time to think. Fear, she suggests, is more likely before or after being on duty. She admits to being scared of death but tries not to dwell on it. During active duty, especially when performing tasks like bandaging, adrenaline takes over, and the focus is solely on the injured person.

Future Plans and Reflections

Sophia's Immediate Future

Sophia is currently on official vacation. She plans to visit her family for a day, give them presents, and then reunite with her fiancé, whom she hasn't seen in two months.

Sophia's View on Victory and the Future

Sophia finds it difficult to think about victory due to the significant loss of friends and loved ones. She anticipates that any commemoration of the war's end would be a day of "huge grief" rather than celebration, likely involving visits to cemeteries.

Coping with Loss

When a friend dies, Sophia explains that there isn't enough time to fully process it. Her brain "just not understand it like 100%," and she initially dismisses the information as untrue. She acknowledges that the trauma will likely need to be dealt with later.

The Filmmaker's Next Project

The filmmaker's next project is about firefighters, titled "Voices." This project focuses on the routine and emotional toll of their work responding to bombings.

Sophia's Long-Term Aspirations

Sophia is currently finishing her bachelor's degree and is undecided about her next academic step. While she could pursue a master's in international law, she is unsure. She states that medicine was never her passion and she is not interested in it after the war. She anticipates taking "gap years for a life" after the war, focusing on travel, spending time with family, and living an "ordinary life." She desires to settle down and create a home atmosphere, as her current apartment in Kyiv feels empty.

A Message of Resilience

Sophia concludes with a message of resilience: "the people will know that we are not we are not suffering. We are live our lives the the the beautiful lives. We are trying to search the small moments of life and we are we are not s people. We are really life lovers and we want to continue our lives. The war is only the part of our lives. That's that's it. is not is not making us special. Is not making us darkness. We just know the cost of small things."