Krakow: “What Matters Most Is Serving Ukraine”

Ukrainian blood runs through his veins, but family roots were not the only reason he came here. A former Polish soldier, manager of an upscale London restaurant, mountaineer, and humanitarian worker in Africa, Maciej — callsign “Krakow” — has been defending Ukraine since the very first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Over more than four years, he has moved from serving in the 1st International Legion to becoming a soldier in the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade. He has fought in some of the fiercest sectors of the front and today cannot imagine his future outside the Ukrainian military.

Before joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Krakow had already tried his hand at several professions. In his hometown of Tarnów, he trained as a chef. After completing his studies, he joined the Polish Armed Forces and later moved to the United Kingdom. He spent nearly eight years living in London, where he worked as a manager at a high-end restaurant:

"I devoted myself completely to my work, but besides that I was passionate about mountaineering. I have experience climbing in the Alps, the Polish Tatra Mountains, and other ranges."

The Pole arrived in Ukraine at the very beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion — on March 5, 2022 — and has remained here ever since. However, his connection to this land began much earlier:

"Before the war, I visited Ukraine several times. I am also a Polish scout, so I often took part in commemorative ceremonies at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv."

Ukraine also holds a deeply personal meaning for him, connected to his family history:

"I have Ukrainian roots on my mother's side. I visited the places where my family lived — my grandparents, as well as my great-grandparents."

Over time, these personal and family ties grew into a profound sense of connection with the country he now defends:

"I respect Ukraine because it has a very rich culture, traditions, and religion. I like this country, and I plan to stay here after the war."

Every foreign volunteer has their own reasons for fighting for Ukraine. For some, it is personal experience; for others, a sense of moral duty or a desire to defend their values. Krakow’s decision to join the Ukrainian military was shaped by several such of them:

"First, I came here because I have some Ukrainian blood in me, so I feel partly Ukrainian. Second, I am a former serviceman of the Polish Armed Forces. And when I was living in the United Kingdom, I traveled to Africa — Uganda — three times as a medic. I worked with UNICEF. So how could I just stand aside and not come to help Ukraine?"

Yet his motivation extends far beyond personal ties to Ukraine or a sense of professional duty. For Krakow, this war is also a struggle for the future of those who will live after it:

"I came here to fight for freedom. But I also care deeply about how children will live here. Everything I do on the front line is for them — so that they can feel free, be themselves, and have a normal life."

Maciej has been fighting since the first days of Russia's full-scale invasion. During that time, he has taken part in dozens of battles and operations, witnessed countless human tragedies, but also seen extraordinary courage, ingenuity, and brotherhood. Over the years of war, he has accumulated countless stories — about life and death, loss and survival, risky decisions, and unexpected twists of fate.

One story in particular stands out in his memory. It happened in 2023 and demonstrates that victory in war is not always achieved through firepower or numerical superiority alone, but sometimes through ingenuity:

"There was a guy in my platoon who spoke Russian perfectly — almost without an accent. He started shouting to the Russians: 'Come over here! We're not Ukrainians. We'll give you food. We're Russian servicemen.'

And the Russians believed him. Fifteen Russian soldiers approached our positions. Then they realized: 'Oh, these are Ukrainians.'

Of course, they surrendered. The Legion, the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, and units of the State Border Guard Service were holding those positions. In just one day, we took 15 Russians prisoner."

In war, much depends on a soldier's personal qualities — endurance, professionalism, and the willingness to take responsibility. But it is equally important who stands beside you, who you trust with your life, and who shares the hardships of the front with you.

For Krakow, the people themselves became one of the main reasons he decided to continue his service with the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade:

"I have been in this unit since December 2025. But I had worked with the 92nd Brigade before. I first met them when I was a platoon commander in the 1st International Legion for the Defence of Ukraine. We operated under the brigade's command — first near Kupiansk in 2023, and later around Bakhmut, Andriivka, and Klishchiivka.

The 92nd are professionals who care about their soldiers. They take care of everything. That's why I'm here, and I'll remain in this battalion and this brigade for as long as I have the strength."

When he began serving in Ukraine, another challenge stood before him — learning the Ukrainian language. For Krakow, it was not only a matter of effective communication with his comrades, but also a sign of respect for the country he had come to defend:

"Polish is very close to Ukrainian. We can understand each other almost without any problems. Before the war, I didn't know a single word of Ukrainian. I spoke with my Ukrainian comrades who had previously been to Poland. After three months, I already understood some Ukrainian. As a Pole, it was easier for me to learn Ukrainian than Russian because Polish is much closer to Ukrainian than it is to Russian."

Not every volunteer knows what they will do after the war. Krakow already has an answer. It is simple, yet revealing: he wants to remain where he believes he can be most useful:

"I don't plan to return to civilian life, and I can't even imagine what it would be like. I simply want to remain part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

It doesn't matter where exactly. I could be somewhere along the border, watching the Russians. Or at a training ground, passing on my experience and training new recruits. What matters most is continuing to serve in the Armed Forces."

Text: Dmytro Tolkachov

Video, Photos: the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade

Editing: Oleksandr Bekker