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This is the moment a popular Ukrainian TV presenter ended his latest show by telling viewers he will be swapping a microphone for a machine gun and joining the army.
Kyiv is desperately seeking to replenish its frontline as the fight to repel Russia’s full-scale invasion nears its third year.
At the end of his news programme Window and Facts, Orest Drymalovsky, 29, told ICTV viewers: ‘That’s all for now. And for me it’s a personal finish today. This was my last broadcast before I am mobilised to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.’
He later said in an interview on his decision that it was the duty of military age men to sign up, saying: ‘There is no other way to victory.’
Ukraine is seeking to reform its mobilisation laws to enable more people to be called up to the army.
Mr Drymalovsky said: ‘We have no right to enjoy a peaceful life while the best give theirs for it.
‘Believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, help the Armed Forces. Stand up to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.’
TV presenter Orest Drymalovsky announced his last broadcast as he was mobilised to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Picture: Orest Drymalovsky/east2west news)
Ukrainian servicemen fire a 80-mm mortar during military exercises by assault units in Zhytomyr region on January 30 (Picture: AFP via Getty)
He revealed he had considered leaving the country to live in peace abroad, as hundreds of thousands of others had done.
But he went on: ‘I want to work in Ukraine, I want to create a family here and build my own business, I want my future children to live here.
‘For all this to happen, the state must be preserved. To save the state, you need to join the army when the state needs it. The logic is as simple as possible.’
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Mr Drymalovsky revealed he had considered leaving the country to live in peace abroad but said he believes it is his duty to fight (Picture: Orest Drymalovsky/east2west news)
He admitted he was scared, and said he had prepared for the call-up, taking a first aid course and fire training.
‘Is this enough? Of course not,’ he said. ‘I want to perceive mobilisation as a challenge.
‘I will try to constantly improve my skills in order to be as effective as possible where I will be.’
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