Marion Gauthier, edited by Manon Fossat 09:57, March 04, 2022
On the ninth day of the military invasion by Vladimir Putin's troops, more than a million refugees fled Ukraine to neighboring countries.
More than half of them went to Poland.
At the border, the special envoy of Europe 1 on the spot met a veteran of Donbass, who swapped arms for humanitarian aid.
REPORT
One million refugees have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries since the Russian invasion began nine days ago, and more than half of them have gone to Poland.
There, some veterans of the separatist war in Donbass have traded arms for humanitarian aid.
The special envoy on the spot of Europe 1, Marion Gauthier, met one of them.
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His feverish hands check the carefully labeled boxes: medicines and clothes occupy the entire trunk.
Bogdan is busy.
He is fine, dry and unshaven.
"I work and the rest of the time I take food to the border or even people who want to fight depending on the need. Today I also host four people in my home. War is not only on the front line, we have to do everything we can here," he explains.
“There will be heavy losses”
Fighting differently than in 2014. For the past week, he has made six round trips at night from Katowice to the border, more than 300 kilometers each time.
Bogdan takes men to fight, and brings back refugees.
And doubt settles in the cabin.
"In 2014, I was the one who bought my own uniform, my shoes. Only the weapons were provided. At that time, I had no family. It was simpler. I was going to serve with enthusiasm", he remembers.
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"This time there were debates, tears with my wife. I have regrets every time I watch the news. For sure, there will be heavy losses on both sides", breathes he finally.
His boxes deposited on a train for Ukraine, the father of the family will lend a hand at the collection point, and is already putting on a construction vest