Part 2/9:
The war, now in its third year, has seen millions of Ukrainians flee westward, seeking refuge from the chaos. Reporting from the safety of the U.S. had been informative but ultimately inadequate. Driven by a sense of obligation to tell the stories of the soldiers on the front lines, the journey began from a small border town in Poland.
Upon crossing into Ukraine, signs of the conflict became evident. Military-age men were noticeably absent from the border, a reflection of the military conscription enforced by the Ukrainian government. With nearly six million Ukrainians having fled the country since the war's onset, the demographic shift was stark. Nonetheless, a new adventure unfolded as the journey to Kyiv commenced.