A new review for the English version of my book about the Donbass war in 2014. It's been a long time since the last one 🤠

This is a fascinating book.

Check your politics at the door because I think to most readers the author is one of the bad guys, and so in this book you have graphic descriptions of bad guys killing good guys. That’s strong stuff. There are reviews that say this book should be Exhibit #1 at the The Hague. Just so. The less you know about the situation in the Donbass the better.

This book is a great historical document and look into the mind of someone that, because of conviction, goes off to fight what they know is probably a losing war. What makes it particularly interesting is that it is a view from the “other side”. Like a fighter for Islamic State, or perhaps the Taliban.

Watching a self-proclaimed quasi-state being born, being a fly on the wall during mundane meetings about setting up an Attorney General office (of all things?). Watching how things fall apart, how Russia fits in. Fascinating.

I was surprised by the attitude toward Moscow, I assumed (wrongly) that these rebels were pro-Russia Federation. It's a view into a group of ultra-right, nationalist Russians that I did not know exist.

The author is quite a character. Street-smart, world-weary, been-there-done-that, goes from telling stories about dubious activities in Africa to battle, and then ultimately on to the next thing. I think the writing is great, I love the translation (did the author write this in English? - it's just bad enough to be thoroughly authentic.

You'll like the author -- and suddenly the author will drop an anti- Semitic or racist remark that reminds you, ah yes, this is a not one of the good guys. You’ll have things in common with him. It’s unsettling.