Viktor and Ivan were calm as they waited in a line of cars to cross the border from Poland into Ukraine. There was a determination in their eyes.
Over 1.5 million Ukrainians have fled into Poland since the beginning of the war. They told Insider that they were headed in the opposite direction to defend Ukraine.
One of the rebel regions in eastern Ukraine that Putin recognized as independent in the lead-up to Russia's invasion was the city of Donetsk. He fought pro-Kremlin rebels there. Ivan did two years of military service in Ukraine. They plan to join the army or the Territorial Defense Force to fight the Russians.
The two men who refused to give their last names are truck drivers who lived in Poland when the conflict began. They are going home to bring the fight to the Russians, who Ivan called bandits and thieves.
When asked what the US and wider could do to help, they said they would close the sky.
"Close the sky" is a phrase that has been echoed by Ukrainian refugees across Poland over the past week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for NATO to create a no-fly zone to stop Russian airstrikes.
NATO would have to shoot down Russian warplanes if this were to happen. This would be a declaration of war by the 30 member defensive alliance, pitting nuclear powers against one another in a potentially catastrophic conflict. Ukrainians are desperate to see the war in their country end.
Ivan pointed to a bus full of Ukrainian men in front of his vehicle who were also heading across the border to take the fight to Russia. Ukrainian veterans in Poland were getting ready to re-enlist before the invasion by Russia. Ivan said he wanted to give a big thank you to the US for the help it has given Ukraine, which has included lethal aid like Javelin anti-tank missiles.
Ivan and Viktor refused to be photographed for safety reasons, but Ivan smiled and said that they could take a picture when they get back. Ivan said that he was sure that Ukraine would win the war. 100%.
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