One of the biggest stories in the world this year has been the war between Russia and Ukraine. The two neighboring countries have been engaged in an escalated conflict over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Many civilians have been asked to take up arms and aid the Ukrainian army as they attempt to hold off the Russian forces. One of these people is none other than former NBA champion Slava Medvedenko.
Medvedenko, who played with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks over his 7-year career, is a former NBA champion, winning the championship in 2001 and 2002 while playing with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal under Phil Jackson.
But now, Medvedenko is on the battlefield, fighting for his country. Speaking to Bill Oram of The Athletic, Slava Medvedenko talked about his experience in the war so far. He revealed how he joined the Ukrainian forces, how he has felt throughout the situation and the experience he has had with the skirmishes:
“You saw the tanks and everything rolling towards Kyiv,” he said, “and I just reached out to him and let them know that I’m keeping him in my thoughts and prayers. It’s a sobering situation.”
On Feb. 25, one day after the first round of bombings, Medvedenko was among 30 volunteers who gathered for an emergency planning meeting. Within a week, the group numbered 100. Another week later, it had doubled.
“In three weeks, we actually were like a police organization,” he said.
“That probably was the best decision from our president (Volodymyr Zelenskyy),” Medvedenko said. “He let everybody get weapons.”
Medvedenko watched as his neighbors rallied to become a defense unit. His wife, Elena, manned a radio.
“The people of Ukraine, they surprised me,” said Medvedenko. “I saw how they united.”
“I feel like I have to stay in Ukraine and help our country, our nation, understand ourselves,” he said. “We have to be strong. It’s the opportunity to get stronger.”
“Can you imagine?” he said. “You’re just sitting at a checkpoint and you see a big f*cking rocket just fly over you?”
On one of the first nights he sat watch, Russian forces fired more than 20 missiles trying to take out the Ukrainian radar system.
“We have almost first row in the cinema,” he said. “That was the first time I think Russians understand they cannot break our air defense system.”
Medvedenko has been part of the forces fighting against the Russian invasion, and clearly, the war between the two sides has taken a toll on him. But at the same time, he has praised his fellow citizen for the strength that they have displayed during this time, and says that everyone will have to be united.
Medvedenko’s comments give us a glimpse of the harsh realities of the war between the two countries. For Slava, he is now fighting for his country, and hoping that peace prevails in the end. That is what all of us can do right now.
