Ukraine, SkyTG24 images from the volunteer training camp. PHOTO

There is a way and a way to spend a Saturday morning. These private citizens of Kiev choose to come and train for war among the industrial ruins in the woods near the capital, and they do so every week despite the prohibitive temperatures.

WATCH THE VIDEO: Ukraine, SkyTG24 in the volunteer training camp

To get to this field you have to cross kilometers of frozen and inhospitable woods

Ukraine, Sky TG24 in the volunteer training camp: the report

“We are reservists and new recruits, 100-150 in this group, there are people who do all professions: drivers, graphic designers, journalists, politicians, doctors, sportsmen”, says one of them.

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They therefore all have a job, a family and loved ones to protect against the possible Russian invader. That’s why they come here on Saturdays, to prepare for the worst

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“Someone wants to attack our house and we want to protect it,” they explain

“I want to defend my city, which is Kiev, the capital, if I don’t do it who can do it?” Asks one of the volunteers.

A local NGO is organizing training camps like this, and they are spread throughout the country, and it does so on the basis of a law, wanted by President Zelensky and just passed by parliament, which has the explicit intention of rapidly increasing the army forces and the country’s defensive capacity

The aim is to enlist at least 10,000 people. Recruitment is handled by local governments and started immediately

The important thing is that it is fast and that in every community there are people who know how to defend themselves. All civilians who, like the ones you see, have gone to sign up on the reservist lists and will soon be armed

“This is to do tactical exercises – explains one of those present showing a weapon – I am about to receive the permission of the Minister of the Interior to buy my rifle”

“The threat is real, because Russia has already attacked us in 2014 and has already shown us that they can occupy the territories – says another – In 2014 the army was not ready, now the situation is different, we know they are stronger. and we will not last long but we hope that the international community will help us ”

The president, who a month ago wanted the law on recruitment, now throws water on the fire and asks Western countries not to create panic

The answer comes from these people: those who give up their civilian clothes for one day a week, and who maybe even need to get back into shape, get back into training, think about the defense of their country, their homes, and obviously see war as a concrete possibility, even if perhaps not probable

These men and women are here to give a signal to their fellow citizens and to the world that Ukraine will defend itself this time

What happened in 2014, when the Russians took Crimea without firing a shot and in fact also the Donbass, the east of the country, killing 14,000 instead, must not happen again. This is why I am here to learn how to make war

“I think many Ukrainians are doing such training – adds another of those present in the camp – you have to live a normal life, believe in peace and in the future, but at the same time be ready to see hell”