“I’m not interested in money or glory: I’m not Rambo, even if I have military and anti-terrorism experiences, I leave to defend ideals and especially children”. Francesco, his name is fictional to guarantee anonymity, thus tells of his decision to enlist among the volunteers of the International Legion.
One day above all it made the difference for Francesco, who is 35 years old and is from Campania: “I was watching the news, there was a Ukrainian girl who must have been 7. She said in tears: ‘I’m afraid of dying’. that age cannot be afraid of dying, it is unacceptable “, he says with emotion, interrupting his story.
“We must all try to help the Ukrainian people in whatever way, according to what each one is able to do – he says – I have been in the military for 8 years and I want to make my contribution, not only with weapons but by organizing collections of food, drugs, clothes. I want to see with my own eyes that the things we send to the Ukrainians really arrive. I want to have the satisfaction of seeing a child being treated with the medicines we sent him. “
Despite having been in the police force, having attended anti-terrorism and anti-sabotage courses, Francesco is waiting for the documents to leave: “They must understand if you are capable of facing a war, if you are skilled”. And he reiterates that you don’t need to be Rambo to decide to enlist: “Many Ukrainian boys are not militarily trained but they defend their land and this is their strength”. Yet, despite this decision, Francis theorizes his pacifism. “I repudiate the war but in this case I can’t help but go. I don’t like to think about killing someone, I’m a Christian, I hate those who kill. But today we must all feel called into question by this war because this is only the I am leaving for the people, for the people, not for the nation. When the Ukrainians see that we Europeans too, at the risk of putting our lives in danger, will be by their side, they will be better off. These people suffer. for years, eight long years. What life is it? “. His voice breaks once again when he talks about the children: “I can’t think they’re dying.” Pietro, also a real name, 22 years old, originally from Veneto, will also leave as a volunteer. “I go to Ukraine for an ethical reason, seeing those people and those defenseless children doesn’t allow me to stay here and watch, they strike me a lot. The Ukrainians are fighting, at least up to now, alone against a super power like Russia”. Pietro is young, he has only one year of conscription behind him as an experience in the military field, but determined and even a little fatalist: “If I’m afraid of dying? The risk of being killed is there, it’s a war, but the way I see it I could also end up under a tree or a car without realizing it today, here in Italy. In life there is always the mix between risk and taking note of what can happen. It’s all very relative ” he adds as he checks the phone. He awaits the call to leave.
Source: Ansa
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