In one of the most brutal areas of the war in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian soldier carries a small stuffed bear on his back—a personal talisman that silently reminds him who and what he is fighting for.
According to Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces Command, the soldier found the toy in a destroyed playground in Donbas, lying among ruins, shattered swings, and haunting silence.
“Amid the debris, empty swings, and silence, there was a little bear. I took it with me. I couldn’t leave it behind. Since then, it’s always with me—silent, holding on, looking forward,” said the soldier.
The small plush animal has become a symbol of faith, humanity, and memory. It reminds him that this war isn’t just about territory or borders—but about the future of children, about life returning to bombed-out neighborhoods. The bear gives him strength, he says, and reminds him of the reason he fights—that one day, children will return to those playgrounds.
The Special Operations Forces add:
“During training, soldiers practice not only complex combat scenarios but carry with them items of personal meaning. Because this war is not just about weapons and technology.”
