USA TODAY Opinion is presenting the story of Illarion Pavliuk, a renowned Ukrainian writer, documentary filmmaker and journalist. Through his own words, we will show how he went …
USA TODAY Opinion is presenting the story of Illarion Pavliuk, a renowned Ukrainian writer, documentary filmmaker and journalist. Through his own words, we will show how he went from a father to one of the many citizens in Ukraine who have decided to fight back against the Russian invasion. You can follow his story from the first dispatch he sent when he was with his family and talking about why he decided to fight the Russian invasion to when he reached Kyiv to help train volunteers. Most of the diary is marked premium for subscribers, but this page will provide previews and a gathering point. You can subscribe here to get full access to the diary and all of USA TODAY’s subscriber content. Illarion has been communicating with me through the Telegram app that has become popular in Ukraine. His words are haunting and powerful, especially as I listen to his children in the background. « What can I tell you about this war? It is difficult to say a couple of words, » he says. « I would never ever imagine my four children dropping their toys and running to sit in the thickest doorway in the house because of cruise missiles above our city; ballistic missiles. « And I would never imagine this and I will never forgive Russia. » ‘It was a horrible feeling to see your country in a state of war’ It was 10 p.m. in Kyiv when he sent me his audio message. In this second dispatch, Illarion sounds different.
