"A reminder of what we’re fighting for": Ukrainian soldier takes teddy bear from destroyed playground with him on combat missions

A Ukrainian soldier carries a teddy bear, which he found at a destroyed playground in Donetsk Oblast, with him as a talisman. 

Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia; Command of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces 

Details: The soldier, who carries the bear on his back, says he found it at a destroyed playground in Donetsk Oblast.

"Among the rubble, the empty swings and the silence, was a little bear. I took him with me. I couldn't leave him there. He’s been with me ever since: silent, keeping still, looking forward," the soldier said.

The teddy bear reminds him of who and what he is fighting for and gives him hope that children will soon return to playgrounds once again.

"During exercises, the soldiers not only practise complex battle scenarios, they also carry with them something that is important to each of them personally. Because this fight is not just about equipment and weapons," the command of the Special Forces added.

Background: In April, Oleh Mahdych, a crew commander from the Hospitallers medical volunteer battalion, apologised to Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia) after boarding a clean Intercity train in muddy combat boots while returning from the front line. Ukrainian Railways responded to the soldier’s post in the comments, saying that his boots were a symbol of "a war that gives us peace".

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