The war in Ukraine has been going on for six months. Sweden sends money and material to Ukraine, but there are also Swedes who go further.
In this episode of Sveriges Radio’s security policy podcast Gräns, Tobias Engqvist tells what it’s like to be a volunteer soldier in Ukraine. Also hear from the experts about how dangerous Russia can become if Putin gets his way, and about Sweden’s strategic choice of path.
Sweden’s role in the war for Ukraine
Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has said that it is central to all of Europe that Russia does not win the war. But when Sweden decides on a seventh aid package to Ukraine, they choose to send artillery ammunition, not howitzers to fire them with.
Tobias Engqvist wants to contribute himself, and he travels to Ukraine to fight against Russia.
Hear about life as a volunteer foreign soldier, a mission that provides a monthly salary of up to 30,000 kroner, and about what it’s like to survive when two friends are killed by Russian shell fire. One of those who falls is the Swede Edvard Selander Patrignani.
Participating
Roger Djupsjömajor in the Armed Forces who trained the military in Ukraine
Tobias Engqvistrecently returned volunteer soldier in Ukraine
Ilmari Käihködocent in military science at the Swedish Defense Academy in Stockholm
Gudrun PerssonRussia expert at the Total Defense Research Institute, FOI
Mollie Saltskogintelligence analyst at Soufan Group
Host: Bo Torbjörn Ek & Ulrika Bergqvist
Producer: Karin Hållsten & Carl-Johan Ulvenäs
Technician: Glate Öhman
Source: ICELAND NEWS