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Canadian Soldier in the Ukrainian Army: ‘We’re fighting for our children’s future’
“War seems so far away for North America that we think we’re untouchable. But we’re not,” says April Huggett, a Canadian who left behind a peaceful home, three children, and a beloved career more than two years ago to help Ukraine. After two years of volunteering, she signed a contract and joined the ranks of the Ukrainian army. For the sake of strangers in a foreign country, Huggett sacrificed her marriage, relationships with loved ones, sleep, and peace of mind. Yet she insists she has no regrets—because in this war, she is fighting for her children’s future. Her story is not just about a personal choice but also about the shifting Western perception of Russian aggression, which has tested the international order for nearly 11 years.
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Kharkiv hospitals are facing a shortage of donor blood
Doctors in frontline Kharkiv report a shortage of blood for transfusions and are calling on residents to donate. The deficit could impact wounded soldiers on the front lines and civilians injured in daily shelling. The city's Blood Service supplies not only local hospitals but also frontline areas in the region. Since January 2025, it has also been providing blood to medical facilities in the Sumy region, according to Blood Service representative Valentyna Taran.
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Ukraine brings home 197 defenders from Russian captivity – photos
Ukraine has successfully returned 175 defenders from Russian captivity, along with 22 more heroes who are coming home through efforts beyond formal exchange processes. Among them are severely wounded soldiers and those imprisoned on fabricated charges. All will receive full medical and psychological care.
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Another war crime against civilians. Testimonies and timeline of Russian army strikes on Dobropillia
On March 7, 2025, the Russian army launched a combined assault on Dobropillia, Donetsk region, using Iskander ballistic missiles, Tornado-S MLRS with cluster munitions, and Shahed ("Geran") drones.
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Ballistic missile strike on Dobropillia’s residential center: photos of the aftermath
On Friday, March 7, 2025, the Russian army carried out three missile strikes on the city of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region.
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American weapons in Ukraine. Frontline feedback from Ukrainian soldiers
Despite the United States pausing military aid to Ukraine, American-made artillery shells, surface-to-air missiles, air defense systems, ammunition, military vehicles, and electronic warfare equipment remain in active use on the front lines. Reporters from Frontliner spoke with Ukrainian soldiers to gather firsthand accounts of their experience using U.S.-supplied weapons. Given the sensitive nature of the topic, troops shared their feedback anonymously, offering insights into the effectiveness, strengths, and challenges of the equipment they rely on in combat.
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“They beat me with fists and sticks.” Azov fighter reveals disturbing details about his time in Russian captivity
He’s been through constant beating with fists and sticks, made-up war crimes that he was forced to hang on other prisoners, and grueling 16-hour standing in a cell, this is the story of Yurii Sviderskyi, the 23-year-old Azov fighter from Khmelnytskyi. After putting down arms in Mariupol, he was imprisoned for over two years. Yurii watched the whole city burn to the ground, witnessed the Olenivka attack with other Ukrainian soldiers being killed, and saw numerous inhuman interrogations. It’s been six months since Yurii got back to Ukraine. He is still undergoing rehabilitation, as he still struggles with his teeth due to the injuries he received before his release. Frontliner spoke to Yurii in Khmelnytskyi when he came to see his girlfriend Taisiia between rehabilitation sessions. The following text is Yurii’s raw speech.
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Andriy & Vita’s Frontline Diary
Frontliner reporters Andriy Dubchak and Viktoria Kalimbet have traveled to the Donetsk region to document life in frontline towns and villages. They will visit Ukrainian military positions, speak with locals, and share daily photos and reports from their journey. Follow their diary on the Frontliner website.
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“Alumni” of the torture chambers – after Russian captivity, men are left to heal themselves
After enduring months of brutal torture, men freed from Russian captivity are forced to continue battling for their survival. Many have returned to a life stripped of homes, money, and the care they should receive from the state. To support themselves and others like them, these former prisoners have come together to form a network called The Alumni. United by the shared trauma of torture and humiliation at the hands of the occupiers, they find solace and understanding in each other’s company. Humor, too, has become a lifeline—hence the ironic name Alumni. Former captives spoke to Frontliner about how they were taken prisoner, survived the horrors of Russian torture chambers, and, after gaining their freedom, now fight for their right to a dignified life.
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Moving feels scarier than guided bombs: why residents of a frontline community choose to stay under fire?
Velykyi Burluk, a quiet village in the Kharkiv region, that lies just 20 kilometers from the Russian border. Since the Russian offensive of May 2024, this village has found itself trapped between two relentless fronts. To the northwest, battles rage in the charred ruins of Vovchansk, while to the southeast, Kupiansk is being systematically leveled to the ground. With the advent of Russian planing guided bombs in 2023, Velykyi Burluk lives under the shadow of constant strikes.Yet, in the face of unending danger, most of Burluk's residents remain rooted in their homes. They feel forsaken, resigned to their fate, and gripped by the belief that no life beyond their embattled village could possibly be better than the one they already endure.
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Who Plagued the Hearts of Donetsk Miners With Fear?
My grandfather, Anatolii, passed away clinging to the myth of the "Russian world.” Despite surviving the brutal Russian occupation, he remained captivated by this idealized vision. My grandfather was a lifelong miner, dedicating his life to the Donetsk region. He never experienced poverty and he had a house and a big family. Yet, as the cruel Soviet economic system exploited the relatively stable Ukrainian welfare, many people felt hardships immediately. Yet even during times of struggle, his family managed to survive through community support. His relationship with my mother, Iryna, broke down when he discovered she was Ukrainian. This revelation shattered his worldview and fueled a deep-seated hatred for "Banderites," a term used to demonize Ukrainian nationalists. He died in Poltava still carrying this hatred and fear. My grandfather’s story is not one of a kind. On the contrary, it is typical for the majority of the older generation in this region. Their broken lives serve as the very foundation of the wall Russia has been relentlessly constructing between Donetsk and the rest of the country.