In the army now: Pictures that show how ordinary Ukrainians have been shaped by war

Six Ukrainian soldiers featured in a BBC report have revealed how Russia's full-scale invasion that began on February 24, 2022, has transformed their civilian lives into military service, with the men and women speaking from various locations across Ukraine including mud-soaked dugouts, drone command centers, and frontline observation posts as the war continues to shape ordinary citizens into defenders of their country. The Russian bombs that began falling on Ukraine turned tens of thousands of civilians into soldiers overnight, with many who had never held a weapon before rushing to take up arms in the face of the invasion. As the war has entered its fourth year, thousands more have been conscripted, with military service being open-ended for men aged 25-65 while women can serve on a contractual basis. Through photographs and personal testimonies, these soldiers document the civilians they once were, the soldiers they have become, and the profound toll the conflict has taken on their physical and mental well-being. The featured soldiers represent diverse backgrounds and experiences, each telling a unique story of transformation. Olena, 26, who once worked as a nightclub administrator in Prague, returned to Ukraine in December 2024 and became a pilot, noting that her 'before' self was 'calmer' and 'more naive' while her current life is defined by the simpler priority of keeping her brothers-in-arms alive after enemy strikes. Similarly, Oleh, 37, a publishing graduate and former NGO worker who describes himself as 'not a military man,' found himself joining the army despite initial confusion and fear, discovering that 'the technique of positive thinking does not save you from armed thugs.' Anastasiia, 19, who went from being a barista fascinated by drones to becoming an FPV operator, found that being a woman in the armed forces 'was and still is the most difficult thing' as she constantly had to prove her worth on equal footing with male counterparts. The psychological impact of the war runs deep across all featured soldiers, with many experiencing profound reassessments of their values and priorities. Roman, 42, one of Ukraine's top bio-engineers before the war, now operates drones from northern Ukraine while trying 'not to think about the future - I live here and now.' Viktor, 28, who returned to Ukraine from Poland when the invasion began, looks at his pre-war photos and sees 'a young boy,' barely recognizable from the soldier he has become. Serhii, 42, a civilian who joined the army on day one of the invasion, was held as a prisoner of war for over two years after the siege of Mariupol's Azovstal steelworks, experiencing captivity as 'the most harrowing experience of my life.' Kyrylo, 35, who had 'a wife, two children, a house – everything I needed' before the war, watched comrades being abused during his captivity in Russia and now struggles with feeling 'nobody' once he returns from fighting, highlighting the complex reintegration challenges many soldiers face.