(Trinidad Guardian) Nearly 20,000 foreign volunteers have signed up to fight in war-torn Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
United National Congress activist and business development consultant Brian Stone is one of the volunteer combatants who is now prepared to battle side-by-side with Ukrainians for freedom against Russian President Vladimir Puttin’s invading army.
Stone will be T&T’s first volunteer to fight in Ukraine’s frontline if he achieves his goal.
“This decision did not come from the brain but from my heart,” Stone admitted in a telephone interview to Guardian Media.
“So far, it is a go. You have to look at it for what it is.”
Knowing fully well that anything can happen during his intended month’s stay, Stone, who served in the Canadian armed forces reserves, has already put contingencies in place.
“I understand very clearly the risks. I am not stupid. If Russian soldiers show up there we will have to fight. I am prepared to do so. The only thing I am fearful of is if shots are fired, there are explosions or should a bomb drop. I hope I can handle it. I have already signed over a number of things to my wife.”
He knows if he loses his life in Ukraine, he will not be covered by his insurance policy.
Stone admitted his decision is not sitting well with his immediate family and close friends but more so his worried wife.
“My wife is not happy at all,” he sighed.
“Even a soldier would be lying if they say they are not afraid. I fear the unseen. There is no way I can cover from an explosion. I am worried about that. If it turns to mostly a guerilla warfare…well, it is over for people like me. I will have to leave. To stay you will get killed.”
Should he die doing volunteerism work, Stone knows his body will also not return to his family.
“Let the Ukrainian government dispose of it. That is what they will do anyway.”
Stone, who is a dual citizen of T&T and Canada, is hoping to depart in two weeks.
Having no warfare skills and with age and strength already against him, Stone said the Ukrainian army may not put him on the frontline to fight.
When Stone enters the Ukrainian ministry of defence base, he will be assessed and assigned to a designated area.
“I will probably be given a part of a city, hopefully, more in the western end where the Russians are not 100 per cent there yet. But I will have to go where they put me,” the businessman said.