Going Off To War June 1, 2014 Evgen Dykyj, a marine biologist from Kiev — who is on Facebook — writes: One, maximum two days for our task group members to get to know each other and to do some last-minute shooting practice, and we are heading out into the welcoming embrace of the Eastern front. . . . I do not know if and when I will be able to chat in the Internet again, so I leave this lengthy text in my place. One always has a strong motive for doing two most unnatural things in the world – risking his life in defiance of self-preservation instinct and taking the life of others. I do not know if I ever will be able to explain my motives (it is war and I am well aware of the danger to my limb and life) and I do not want someone else to explain them in my place, putting alien words in my mouth. So, here are my words about this war. . . . His words are of special interest coming not as history, after the fact, or from a political leader, or journalist, but from a citizen soldier — unpaid and unconscripted.