Kathrine Frich
The war has turned shooting practice into a form of emotional therapy and vital survival training.
The war has turned shooting practice into a form of emotional therapy and vital survival training.
Arming for the Fight of Their Lives
In the heart of Kyiv and beyond, everyday Ukrainians are preparing to face down Russian aggression, not with words, but with weapons.
A rising tide of civilians, from welders to shopkeepers, are heading to shooting ranges and stocking up on firearms, determined to defend themselves from a feared return of Russian troops.
Sleepless Nights and Shotgun Drills
After enduring relentless shelling, 34-year-old welder Evgeniy Vlasenko sought relief at Kyiv’s Top Gun shooting range.
Dodging obstacles and blasting metal targets, he explained why: “We have a cursed neighbour who comes and kills us.”
The war, he says, has turned shooting practice into a form of emotional therapy and vital survival training.
Better Armed Than Dead
“I don’t know what tomorrow holds,” Vlasenko said, “but it’s better to have weapon-handling skills, they won’t go to waste.”
His sentiment echoes a growing belief among Ukrainians that being unarmed is no longer an option. With the front lines uncertain, many are preparing for the worst.
From Gun Store to Home Arsenal
Helping fuel this civilian armament is Korshykov Dmytro, 34, who runs a gun shop in Kyiv. Business is booming.
Many of his customers come from towns once occupied by Russia, their trauma turned into motivation to ensure they’re never caught defenseless again.
“The Country Was Saved by Gun Owners”
Georgiy Uchaykin, president of a Ukrainian gun association, pulls no punches: “We destroyed those b*****ds until the state recovered.”
He credits private citizens, armed with their own weapons, for halting Russia’s initial advance in 2022 when official forces were overwhelmed.
Bucha’s Bloody Legacy
Nowhere is the fear more acute than in towns like Bucha, liberated, but scarred by Russian war crimes.
According to Uchaykin, people there are quietly hoarding weapons, many salvaged or left behind by Russian soldiers.
“Those who went through that hell want protection, not necessarily through official channels.”
Ukrainian Women Take Up Arms
It’s not just men preparing to fight. More and more Ukrainian women are getting armed, especially those whose husbands are on the front lines.
“If a woman knows what happened in Bucha, what choice does she have?” Uchaykin asked.
The brutal reality: being a civilian is no shield from Russian atrocities.