I am Ukraine. And you are too. — Stories from Ukraine

We would like to utilise the platform that #EYP has to share and amplify the voices of those directly impacted by the Russian-Ukrainian war. We thank Sergii Drobysh for sharing his story with us. #YoungEurope

Last night I sat down to write this post, but was interrupted by an air raid siren.

Two hours later — back from the shelter and after dinner — exactly the same story. The siren forced me to drop everything and leave my apartment once again.

And I could not finish it due to falling asleep from exhaustion.

Here is my fourth attempt at it.

I am in Ukraine. Currently in my hometown, Cherkasy. The situation is stable and controlled for now. It feels like the past ~100 hours of my life dragged for over 10 years, but I can’t complain. The most hellish assaults against my our military and civilian populations are happening in the north (on border with Belarus — which launched several ballistic missiles against Ukraine’s territory), in the south (from Crimea) and on the capital city — Kyiv. Not much energy to write extensively, so I will say briefly.

• Morning of 25 Feb — three jets next to my hometown (one down, pilot captured).
• Evening of 25 Feb — family and I spending several hours in the shelter (young, old, children, pets), hearing shelling and (likely) work of anti-aircraft guns defending the area.
• Evening of 27 Feb — seeing a jet hovering above my apartment block a few times. Then the air raid siren forced us to hide in underground garages. Everybody from the apt block was calm and in good humour. Meeting neighbour’s pets brightens such anxious moments. But our town received three ballistic missiles. Our anti-air forces shot down a UAV.
• Morning 28 Feb — air raid siren at 7:20 am, sat in the shelter for over an hour.

I was invited to work with the Financial Services team at FTI Consulting in July 2021. During an interview, Federica Taccogna shared an incredibly powerful personal story, demonstrating that money laundering is never a victimless crime. I have a personal story too now. This story is sounding loud across Europe and the whole world, which feel the threat more acutely, than ever.

Russia’s war against Ukraine should become one of the biggest wake-up calls for the AML community. Russian criminal regime, composed of crooks with illicit gains and vast power, is attacking a sovereign and peaceful European nation and is committing war crimes on Ukraine’s territory. Russia also started blackmailing the world with nuclear escalation.

The global AML community has to continue ratcheting up its efforts against financial crime across the globe. Our security is indivisible.

I am Ukraine. And you are too.

Please share this message far and wide.

P.S. Picture of me catching up on sleep in the underground garages this morning.

By Sergii Drobysh