How Good it is to have no Fear of Dying (Lieutenant Yulia Mykytenko’s Fight for Ukraine) with Lara Marlowe

This book is one person’s reflection on the war in Ukraine. However, it is not a war book that details miliary action but a lesson in history, politics, patriotism and the course of one human life.

The history element of the book of very informative indicating on things like the Great Schism of 1054 which was the separation of the Catholic church of the West from the Orthodox churches of the East. It was caused by disagreements between Western and Eastern church leaders on several issues, including Papal authority and the Filioque clause of the Nicene Creed. The Filioque (meaning ‘and the Son’) clause is that line from the Nicene Creed ‘the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son’. This schism put Ukraine in the Eastern Church and Yulia laments how history would have been so different had it turned west not east. In addition, though she tells us how Ukraine has had a role in shaping other countries through influential royal marriages. Countries such as France, the UK, Germany and Sweden which is apparently why their flags share the same colours.

The other important thing she explains well is how the 2022 invasion was only part of much longer disagreement between Russia and Ukraine and for Ukrainians the war has been going on since even before 2014 when separatists and then Russia annexed Crimea. She is scathing of the leadership of the country at this time and how that led to the ousting of the pro-Russian leader at the time. However, she is also critical of the government in general for letting the armed forces deteriorate, not maintaining equipment or even replacing it because they were then unprepared for the action that was truly needed. She is, as you might expect, highly critical of Putin and his disregard for human life including the lives of his own citizens.

Along side all of this we follow Yulia’s life, her upbringing, her university time, the time as a volunteer, her rise through the ranks, her teaching role in the military academy. What is most difficult is reading her experience of family life, the break-up of her parents marriage through adultery, a father who is an alcoholic and pro-Russian (but who subsequently changes his view with fatal consequences). The role of grandparents is lovely but they too pass away. We learn of her boyfriend who becomes her husband but is then killed in action. All this for a women who is still in her twenties.

This was an excellent read about Ukraine and certainly improved my understanding of what is going on and how it is necessary for the west to help.

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