i ve lost many people, he says. the best ones leave us first. his upper lip folds in slightly from an injury when a large shell hit his chest, legs, and face last march. it was unpleasant, he says, but i had 16 operations to rebuild my bones and teeth and i got back into the fight. western help has kept them afloat. this antiarmor sniper rifle, a don donation used so often its suppresser has come loose and detaches. these machines and men working at a tempo they were probably not designed for. they know why they are here though. my son is growing up, he says. he s little but he already trains, already knows who the enemy is and that is russia. hoping each single shot brings russian defeat closer.