A pop singer who is now fighting Russian soldiers in Ukraine has likened the change in roles to having 'a different desk'.
Before Vladimir Putin announced the 'special military operation' in Ukraine on February 24, Taras Topolia spent his days singing in the pop-rock band Antytila.
The band has released numerous tracks and has garnered thousands of followers on social media, but the frontman put his music career on hold following the invasion to help defend his country.
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In an interview with ITV News, Topolia stressed he is 'still a pop star' now that he is fighting on the front lines, he's just one 'wearing body armour'.
As a soldier, Topolia is working with his colleagues to deliver medical aid to members of the military who sustain injuries while fighting Russian troops. It's a stark contrast to his typical days as a musician, but he described it simply as having 'a different desk' and said there was 'no other way but to defend [his] country when Russia and Putin decided to occupy'.
'It's a horrible situation, it's terrible all over the country. The Russians are bombing civilians, they're terrorists. The army, the government, Putin, they're a terrorist state,' he said.
Topolia also spoke to ABC News from the front lines in Ukraine earlier this week, explaining that Russia had 'tried to capture Kyiv' but they had 'failed'. He described how Ukrainian forces 'saw them' and 'resist[ed] them', using their 'artillery and air strikes' to prevent the occupiers from taking the capital city.
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The singer said there are 'thousands' of people like himself 'in every city of Ukraine' who have joined the army to defend the country. Though the country was 'prepared' for the prospect of war, he admitted the country 'didn't expect' the conflict would unfold how it has.
Another civilian-turned-volunteer, Alex Tkachev, agreed there are 'very many people who want to protect their homes, their country, their city'.
Tkachev is a retired IT consultant who took up recreational shooting as a hobby, and who now trains civilians to use Kalashnikov rifles. However, he told Global News that one day of training may not be enough to protect civilians altogether.
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'It’s a very difficult question,' he said, adding: 'This is something that everyone should decide for himself. But I think that many of these guys understand that if this fight happens, this will be their last fight.'
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared martial law in the country and required men ages 18 to 60 to remain in the country to fight after Russian troops crossed the border.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, World News, Music, Politics