New Year’s greetings from Ukraine’s frontlines

Bjarti Grunnveit Olsen from Haldórsvík joined the Ukrainian army as a volunteer in July.

KvF caught up with him earlier this week during a break from his duties while he was relaxing in a hotel in Kharkiv, preparing to go to back into battle in the eastern part of the Luhansk region.

“I am part of a foreign legion light infantry corps, and our task is to target small Russian concentration points,” he explains.

Bjarti Grunnveit Olsen

“I spend most of the time in the trenches making sure the enemy doesn’t advance.”

 >> SEE ALSO Bjarti fights for Ukraine

When asked about fear, he says:

“Of course there is fear. The remaining members of my corps all feel the same. When stressful situations arise, your survival instinct kicks in. There’s simply no time to panic. You need to focus on your own life and that of others,” he says.

Bjarti Grunnveit Olsen

“It feels strange but wonderful to be able to sit in a hotel room. Some of my comrades haven’t had a proper shower for up to three months, so you can imagine the feeling of suddenly finding yourself in a nice hotel with a shower and a real bed.”

He said he expected to return to the trenches on New Year’s Eve.

“I want to wish everyone at home a Happy New Year, and I’m looking forward to returning home sometime in the new year.”

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

More Faroese News in English.