Fighting For Ukraine

February 20th 2026
Yuriy reflects on Ukraine’s Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, honoring protesters killed during the February 2014 shootings in Kyiv and describing them as the first victims of the Russian-Ukrainian war, driven by Kremlin pressure on Yanukovych’s regime and propaganda portraying protesters as Nazis and criminals. Recounting what he witnessed during the confrontation, he frames the uprising as a pivotal victory for Ukraine’s freedom—comparable to foundational historical turning points—and vows that despite the ongoing, exhausting war and terror, Ukraine will not return to dictatorship or surrender.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

January 21st 2026
Yuriy opens up about his prolonged absence and the challenges faced due to personal struggles with depression and caution in communication. He provides an insightful look into the difficulties Ukraine is currently facing, including severe winter conditions, escalating attacks on civilians and infrastructure, and the pervasive impact of the ongoing war on future plans. Yuriy shares a poignant narrative about the harsh realities of living in war-torn Ukraine and the need for global support and understanding.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

December 12th 2025
In this episode, Yuriy, a journalist-turned-soldier, reflects on his experiences with body armor during his reporting years in conflict zones such as Syria, Iraq, and Gaza. He explains his decision to forgo wearing body armor due to its cumbersome nature and the logistical challenges it presented. Reflecting on the early days of his military service during the full-scale war in his country, he discusses the difficulties in acquiring suitable protective gear and the realization that body armor has an expiration date. Facing an uncertain future, he hopes that the war will end before his current body armor becomes unreliable.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

November 11th 2025
In this milestone 300th episode of Fighting For Ukraine, Ukrainian journalist-turned-soldier, now war Veteran Yuriy marks his 45th birthday on the front lines — another year lived inside the Ukraine war. What should have been a day of celebration is instead filled with reflection, grief, and quiet resilience.
Yuriy looks back on the years the war has taken — from 41 to 45 — and the many personal losses along the way, including the recent passing of his beloved cat, his longtime companion and namesake for his army call sign. Through this heartfelt story, Yuriy opens up about the loneliness of a soldier’s life, the pain of being far from aging parents, and the small, sacred comforts that keep hope alive — even if that hope now takes the shape of a “cat god” watching over his furry friend.
Recorded on Veterans Day, this episode is both a birthday reflection and a meditation on endurance, love, and the cost of survival in wartime Ukraine.
Here is his substack about his cat Pumpkin: https://open.substack.com/pub/yuriymatsarsky/p/pumpkin?r=dzvo1&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

November 4th 2025
In this moving episode of Fighting For Ukraine, Ukrainian journalist-turned-soldier Yuriy reflects on life in the midst of the Ukraine war — and on the small dreams that help him and his comrades endure.
As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches far beyond the first six months, Yuriy shares how Ukrainian soldiers hold on to hope by imagining the peace that will someday come. Some plan to ride motorcycles or rebuild farms; Yuriy dreams of returning home to read two heavy volumes — The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings and The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings.
Yuriy reveals the inner world of a Ukrainian soldier: the longing for normal life, the optimism that survives even on the front lines, and the reminder that every unread book or unplayed record can become a symbol of survival.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

October 27th 2025
Yuriy returns to his childhood apartment in Kharkiv, reflecting on memories and the stark changes brought by war. Amidst the remnants of the past, he finds solace in small comforts and prepare the space for fellow Ukrainian soldiers passing through.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

October 7th 2025
In the wake of increased Russian bombings targeting Ukraine, the city of Dnipro stands as a primary target. Despite the ongoing devastation and personal horror, residents persist in daily life, adapting to the continuous threat while grappling with immense fear and loss.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

Yuriy reflects on his three and a half years in the army, recounting experiences of loss, perseverance, and the ongoing conflict that has spanned 1,300 days. He shares personal anecdotes and the emotional toll the prolonged war has taken on him and his country.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

August 22nd 2025
Yuriy returns after a long absence to discuss the uncertain future of Ukraine's war. He shares his concerns about decisions being made without Ukraine's consent, the potential humiliation in impending peace talks, and the internal divisions in Ukraine that may follow.
Send Yuriy your letter of support fightingtherussianbeast@gmail.com 
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/ 

July 28th 2025
Yuriy reflects on his experience with illness, the enduring effects of war in Ukraine, and the striking parallels between his own journey and that of his grandfather, both marked by their status as war veterans.
Yuriy’s Podbean Patron sign-up to give once or regularly: https://patron.podbean.com/yuriy  
Buy Yuriy a coffee here: https://bmc.link/yuriymat 
Subscribe to his substack: https://yuriymatsarsky.substack.com/