In this episode, host Theo Allthorpe-Mullis speaks from Kyiv with Knight, a British volunteer serving in Ukraine’s Azov International Battalion.

Knight explains why he left the United Kingdom to join Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s invasion, how he copes with fear and loss on the front line, and why he considers this war a just and necessary struggle. He describes daily life within Azov, the realities of combat in the Donbas, and the misconceptions surrounding the unit.

The discussion ranges from the practical and psychological demands of frontline service to the wider meaning of democracy and freedom in wartime. Knight also reflects on the motivations of foreign volunteers, the failures of Western support, and the moral divide between democratic and authoritarian states.

Topics Covered

• Why Knight volunteered to fight for Ukraine
• Life and danger on the front lines in the Donbas
• Coping with fear, trauma, and combat stress
• What Ukraine needs from its allies
• The reality of Azov compared to Russian propaganda
• The mindset and unity of foreign volunteers
• Reflections on democracy, freedom, and dictatorship

Support the show