Andriy went to the TCC [Territorial Recruitment Center] on the first day of the invasion, but they didn’t take him in Ternopil: they said he was too young and should wait. At that time, he was 23 years old. Andriy didn’t want to wait and went to Kyiv.

On the train, he met guys just like him — after arriving, they went to the nearest TCC. There they were mobilized and given weapons. That’s how Andriy ended up in the 128th Separate Territorial Defense Battalion. He started as a grenade launcher operator. Then he transferred to the HUR MO [Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense]. He received three wounds, and after the last, severe one, he switched from infantry to working with FPV drones.

In the second conversation of the “Youth at War” project, serviceman Andriy Khoma shares his film photographs from his service, thoughts on youth, war, dogs, and death. The camera with which he took the photos was a gift to Andriy from his wife.

I have photos from Sumy, 2023. At that time, I was the commander of an FPV crew. It was actually a difficult period for me. A month before these photos, my brother-in-arms and friend — Tuman [Fog] — died. His death was very painful for the crew and for me in particular. I was afraid and didn’t want to lose more of my guys, but I understood that at war, not everyone is destined to survive.

When Tuman died, I saw that I had very few photos of him, so, realizing the transience of human life, I tried to photograph everyone as much as possible.
How do you cope with the terrible and the beautiful in the life that surrounds you?

When I’m sad, I cry; when I’m having fun, I laugh; when I see something beautiful, I can also cry, but usually, I try to look at it as if I will never see it again.

What do you think about when you take these photos on film?

That one day I will definitely look at them and think: “Wow, man, you lived a cool life.”

With the crew at the position. We were just starting to fly drones then, learning a lot, working a lot. — Tuman’s death brought us guys very close. It’s hard to explain, but it’s worth getting into a war to find those you can truly trust, besides your wife.
With the crew at the position. We were just starting to fly drones then, learning a lot, working a lot. — Tuman’s death brought us guys very close. It’s hard to explain, but it’s worth getting into a war to find those you can truly trust, besides your wife.

These are the guys preparing to launch a drone.

These are the guys preparing to launch a drone.

Before us, it was a house where our military lived, then we set up a position here. The soldier who lived here before us was probably very afraid, so he gathered a bunch of icons in his corner — I read his notes. When I saw this picture, I thought that an assault rifle would fit in there very well. Weapons and God at war are always very close.

Before us, it was a house where our military lived, then we set up a position here. The soldier who lived here before us was probably very afraid, so he gathered a bunch of icons in his corner — I read his notes. When I saw this picture, I thought that an assault rifle would fit in there very well. Weapons and God at war are always very close.

The guys are sleeping it off, and I took the pitcher from the table for myself. If you sit non-stop — working at a position for 30 days without a break — a very strong psychological burnout starts. Punching each other in the face turned out to be a very good solution, especially if you smoke a cigarette afterwards.
The guys are sleeping it off, and I took the pitcher from the table for myself. If you sit non-stop — working at a position for 30 days without a break — a very strong psychological burnout starts. Punching each other in the face turned out to be a very good solution, especially if you smoke a cigarette afterwards.

Handsome me against the backdrop of the International Legion flag.

Handsome me against the backdrop of the International Legion flag.

Came back from the position, made ourselves some shawarma.

Came back from the position, made ourselves some shawarma.

What distinguishes your generation from others?

We have Starlinks, Riot Division, and filter coffee!

And how are you the same as your predecessors and successors?

They also had filter coffee.

We went to see drones at the manufacturer’s for purchase — and I really liked how they lay there.

We went to see drones at the manufacturer’s for purchase — and I really liked how they lay there.

Forest is the kindest person I know. I baptized his child, so I became a godfather for the first time.

Forest is the kindest person I know. I baptized his child, so I became a godfather for the first time.

Forest and the ground station, which was funded with the help of the “1991” fund. We are working.

Forest and the ground station, which was funded with the help of the “1991” fund. We are working.

Forest is chopping wood.

Forest is chopping wood.

Raid operations in the Kursk region. I’m carrying two grenade launchers. Shortly after my birthday, for which UCU [Ukrainian Catholic University] sent me a chevron “Witness, serve, communicate”.

— Never wear jewelry or ornaments on combat missions. During that time, I successfully lost two earrings, a chain with pendants, and my wedding ring, which I didn’t really want to get out of a pit in a village toilet. So I had to urgently buy the exact same one so my wife, who was supposed to arrive in three days, wouldn’t kick my ass.

Other conclusions from combat missions: — A human spine breaks very easily. — When carrying a wounded man, I accidentally caught the hole in his leg with my fingers. The feeling is — ew. His leg was amputated. — Losses are best endured on your feet. You can’t stop and plunge into your thoughts, you have to keep working, and then it will ease up somehow. It’s like a cold. — If you live in a remote village, you don’t spend money, because there’s nowhere to spend it. — Buy yourself electric insoles — they are fucking awesome. Your feet don’t freeze at all!

Raid operations in the Kursk region. I’m carrying two grenade launchers. Shortly after my birthday, for which UCU [Ukrainian Catholic University] sent me a chevron “Witness, serve, communicate”.

— Never wear jewelry or ornaments on combat missions. During that time, I successfully lost two earrings, a chain with pendants, and my wedding ring, which I didn’t really want to get out of a pit in a village toilet. So I had to urgently buy the exact same one so my wife, who was supposed to arrive in three days, wouldn’t kick my ass.

Other conclusions from combat missions: — A human spine breaks very easily. — When carrying a wounded man, I accidentally caught the hole in his leg with my fingers. The feeling is — ew. His leg was amputated. — Losses are best endured on your feet. You can’t stop and plunge into your thoughts, you have to keep working, and then it will ease up somehow. It’s like a cold. — If you live in a remote village, you don’t spend money, because there’s nowhere to spend it. — Buy yourself electric insoles — they are fucking awesome. Your feet don’t freeze at all!

Kabanchyk

Kabanchyk

Alive, healthy, finished the task. When you see a lot of death — and people were dying around me often back then — you start thinking about the transience of human life and your own. At some point, you realize that death is normal, and it gives you freedom. Accepting death gives you a sense of lightness: you don’t shit yourself over FPVs, walking through minefields is no longer a problem for you, going on recon missions, or fucking up a Russian OP [observation post] with a grenade launcher.
Alive, healthy, finished the task. When you see a lot of death — and people were dying around me often back then — you start thinking about the transience of human life and your own. At some point, you realize that death is normal, and it gives you freedom. Accepting death gives you a sense of lightness: you don’t shit yourself over FPVs, walking through minefields is no longer a problem for you, going on recon missions, or fucking up a Russian OP [observation post] with a grenade launcher.

Classic everyday life — these clotheslines hung everywhere. It might seem like there’s a mess in the photo, but in reality, everyone was always tidying up.

Classic everyday life — these clotheslines hung everywhere. It might seem like there’s a mess in the photo, but in reality, everyone was always tidying up.

We worked with allied units. They were also, by the way, working on a ground station from “1991”.

We worked with allied units. They were also, by the way, working on a ground station from “1991”.

Lykho [Disaster] is sleeping. Lykho is his callsign.

Lykho [Disaster] is sleeping. Lykho is his callsign.

Forest and Kiwi. Locals tossed Kiwi to us when she was little, in Toretsk. She’s like a child: sometimes disobedient, but when she misbehaves, she comes with her head bowed to be comforted. She traveled everywhere with me, grew into a huge beast — I fattened her up. You could easily give Kiwi a Combat Veteran Certificate for what she has been through. — Keeping a dog is very expensive. My Kiwi strangled three of a neighbor’s chickens, and two of another’s. Back then I paid 250 hryvnias for each chicken, and so they wouldn’t kick us out of the house we lived in — a bottle of good whiskey.
Forest and Kiwi. Locals tossed Kiwi to us when she was little, in Toretsk. She’s like a child: sometimes disobedient, but when she misbehaves, she comes with her head bowed to be comforted. She traveled everywhere with me, grew into a huge beast — I fattened her up. You could easily give Kiwi a Combat Veteran Certificate for what she has been through. — Keeping a dog is very expensive. My Kiwi strangled three of a neighbor’s chickens, and two of another’s. Back then I paid 250 hryvnias for each chicken, and so they wouldn’t kick us out of the house we lived in — a bottle of good whiskey.

Singapore and I are returning from a task, Forest is taking the photo.

Singapore and I are returning from a task, Forest is taking the photo.

While you’re driving, you talk a lot. When it comes to important things, you want to catch these moments because they are warm, human.

While you’re driving, you talk a lot. When it comes to important things, you want to catch these moments because they are warm, human.

Singapore, Kiwi, and the ground station. We went out to test it.

Singapore, Kiwi, and the ground station. We went out to test it.

They let me try shooting from a Humvee.

They let me try shooting from a Humvee.

Another basement. I always had my GoPro with me to shoot videos. During one task, we hit so many fucking Russians that I started to be proud of myself afterwards: two tanks, two APCs, two BRDMs, some cotton jackets, patches, and a good chunk of personnel. Overall, a month of work allowed us to connect with Sternenko and fly his drones. The guys even gave me golden sticks for the remote, and I bought myself a knife for 10,000 hryvnias.

Another basement. I always had my GoPro with me to shoot videos. During one task, we hit so many fucking Russians that I started to be proud of myself afterwards: two tanks, two APCs, two BRDMs, some cotton jackets, patches, and a good chunk of personnel. Overall, a month of work allowed us to connect with Sternenko and fly his drones. The guys even gave me golden sticks for the remote, and I bought myself a knife for 10,000 hryvnias.

Dawn. They asked me to replace a guy for a day and fly Mavics.

Dawn. They asked me to replace a guy for a day and fly Mavics.

Igrok [Player] is wiping the headlights. We went to Dnipro to reflash the drones. Who among us came up with the idea to go from Sumy specifically to Dnipro for this — I don’t know.

Igrok [Player] is wiping the headlights. We went to Dnipro to reflash the drones. Who among us came up with the idea to go from Sumy specifically to Dnipro for this — I don’t know.

We caught fish in the pond near the house.

We caught fish in the pond near the house.

Once, volunteers offered to send a box of drones. We had a shortage then and were very happy. This box arrives, we open it, and there are these colorful toy drones. They don’t fly further than a few kilometers, and it’s impossible to attach anything to them. So we kept them for training newbies. We also thought about maybe attaching blades to the propellers.

Once, volunteers offered to send a box of drones. We had a shortage then and were very happy. This box arrives, we open it, and there are these colorful toy drones. They don’t fly further than a few kilometers, and it’s impossible to attach anything to them. So we kept them for training newbies. We also thought about maybe attaching blades to the propellers.

In the photo — Forest playing the piano. This is one of our houses. At that time, our crew was very mobile and frequently changed positions. In every house, we wanted to settle in somehow, to find something cozy. We often sat at the piano, pressing the keys, even though we didn’t know how to play. It gave us a sense of home.

In the photo — Forest playing the piano. This is one of our houses. At that time, our crew was very mobile and frequently changed positions. In every house, we wanted to settle in somehow, to find something cozy. We often sat at the piano, pressing the keys, even though we didn’t know how to play. It gave us a sense of home.

End of report. I hope this works. If it doesn’t — that’s a disaster. You’ll need to introduce me to some writer. I’ll get him drunk, and he’ll help me write it the right way.

Worked on the story:

  • Photos and stories: Andriy Khoma

  • Interviewed and written by: Olya Shakhnyk

  • Edited by: Iryna Kravets

  • Coordinated by: Maryna Pertsovych