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Meet Father Makarios Lewis – the Brazilian chaplain of the Second Battalion, who shares his inspiring story of faith and service in Ukraine.

In this video, he talks about how the events of 2014 moved his heart and inspired him to come to Ukraine, guided by his deep devotion to God, the Holy Virgin Mary, and the Ukrainian people.

Father Makarios shares his background serving in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Brazil, where he first learned the Ukrainian language and was raised within a vibrant Ukrainian diaspora.

His mission is to provide spiritual support, blessings, and practical assistance to foreign soldiers - both on and off the front lines - offering prayer, comfort, and care in moments of hardship.

If you feel the call to serve, to stand with Ukraine, and to be part of something greater in these challenging times - join Father Makarios in his mission to support Ukraine.

We asked this question to servicemen of the Ukrainian army from different countries.

Volunteers from Colombia, Brazil, the USA, and the UK have different motivations and life experiences. However, each of them speaks about Ukraine with genuine warmth.

"Culturally, Ukrainians and the British are very similar in many aspects." – Rock, a volunteer from the UK.

At the same time, a volunteer from the USA, Benjamin Reinhard, says that Ukrainians have a certain charming stoicism with which he can truly associate himself, even though he is thousands of miles away from home.

"Since the moment I arrived, Ukrainians have treated me with full acceptance and kindness." – added Benjamin Reinhard (USA).

Ukraine values everyone who is ready to stand side by side with our warriors. If you feel the call to fight for justice and freedom, you can become part of the Defense Forces of Ukraine!

💪 Join us! Stand on the side of light. Defend freedom.
 

During the training course, foreign volunteers live in the training camp. The Armed Forces of Ukraine provide newcomers with comfortable conditions for the duration of the training. 

Recruits live in comfortably and warm military tents and eat delicious food.

“After passing the selection, we were informed about the start of the training course and were transferred to the training center base. We settled in military tents. I was surprised that the living quarters are very comfortably equipped, the tents have stationary powerful air conditioners that heat in winter and can cool the temperature in summer. All this is provided to us free of charge by the Ukrainian army,” says a volunteer from Spain, with the call sign “Madrid”, Luis Gonzalez.

Separately, the base has sanitary blocks that recruits use for personal hygiene. There is an opportunity to use a comfortable toilet, take a warm shower, and clean their clothes and shoes after training. Separately, there is a laundry on the territory of the base, which is also available free of charge to foreign volunteers.

“During the training period, we have all the most comfortable conditions for living in the unit,” says Jordan, a volunteer from Australia, with the call sign Preach.

Separately, there is a canteen on the territory of the training base. Foreign volunteers are provided with three free meals a day, according to the rules and standards of the Ukrainian Army. Food is prepared daily, always fresh, tasty, high-calorie and varied. Foreign and Ukrainian military personnel eat together.

During the training period, recruits have free and personal time to relax and communicate with friends. In their free time, they can visit the gym, which is also available free of charge to all military personnel.

In the Ukrainian army, each foreign recruit receives free personal equipment and outfit to perform the assigned tasks. 

All clothing is divided into summer and winter. It is high-quality, comfortable and convenient.

To perform winter tasks, each soldier receives 11 types of clothing. These are: a warm winter jacket, thermal underwear, two pairs of pants and a tunic, a fleece insulated jacket, shorts and T-shirts, winter trekking socks, a combat shirt that is specially designed to be worn under a bulletproof vest, a hat and a scarf-pipe.

“The clothes and equipment that we are given for free in Ukraine are of high quality and comfortable. This winter it was down to -12 degrees Celsius. But I didn’t feel the cold at all. The clothes last a very long time in the field. I am very satisfied,” says William Espinoza, a soldier who came to Ukraine from Colombia. In addition, after signing the contract, each soldier receives a tactical backpack and tactical bag, a belt, winter high boots, tactical gloves, a flask and a kettle, a field seat, a sleeping mat, and a sleeping bag.

Each person is issued a separate ballistic helmet and helmet liner, a bulletproof vest with ballistic plates and ballistic elements for side and groin protection, knee pads, elbow pads, ballistic goggles, earplugs, and helmet liner. All protective elements are of the highest quality and meet the highest international standards.

“When I was first given clothes and equipment, I was surprised – there was a lot of it. I asked myself: how will I carry it? But here a large military bag and a backpack, which we were also given, came in handy. Everything is thought out to the smallest detail. Moreover, there are many sizes and clothes and shoes are selected specifically for you,” says Yuri Previtali, who arrived in Ukraine from Italy. 

A separate set of clothes and shoes is also issued for performing tasks in the summer. It is different from the winter one and is designed to make it comfortable for the serviceman to perform tasks in the warm season.