Brazilian goes to war in Ukraine looking for ‘adrenaline’, goes hungry, loses 28kg, sees friend die and escapes from his own army

Baiano goes to war in Ukraine in search of adrenaline, loses 28 kg and runs away to return Fantástico spoke to Brazilians who left Brazil to fight in the war in Ukraine. Redney Miranda from Bahia had an old dream of becoming a soldier — frustrated by not being able to join the Brazilian Army. Without any experience, he decided to go to Ukraine, driven, according to him, by adrenaline. “Ever since I was a kid, watching movies, I wanted to serve in the Army. I couldn’t do it here and I didn’t leave that dream behind,” he said. The plan was to stay 30 days. It remained 172, almost six months. During this period, he lived under bombings, lost 28 kg and witnessed the deaths of colleagues. Find out more below. ‘The food was military rations’ According to Redney, the food was precarious and, at times, practically non-existent. “The food was military ration. I spent three days with just the instant noodle seasoning,” he said. Upon returning to Brazil, the Bahian had lost around 28 kilos. “I arrived weighing 90 kilos and came back weighing just sixty,” he said. Baiano goes to war in Ukraine in search of adrenaline, loses 28 kg and runs away to return Reproduction/TV Globo Risk situations and losses In addition to hunger, Redney reports that he experienced constant risk situations. In one of the attacks, he was injured by grenade shrapnel and left part of his body temporarily paralyzed. He witnessed the death of 17 colleagues — including Wagner, Braddock, from Paraná. “He came out of the trench without equipment and a drone hit him. He had no vest, nothing,” he says. Escape at risk and confrontation with Ukrainians Returning to Brazil, however, was not simple. The fighter says he tried to leave the front line and ended up being chased by Ukrainian soldiers. “We had to run from the Ukrainians themselves. We had to fight them to escape the trench and go to a closer city,” he said. The Bahian managed to leave the country and returned to Brazil in January. The mother claims that she spent months without hearing from her son and that she believed he would not return alive. “We think it won’t come anymore. We only imagine bad things,” said Jaída Miranda, Redney’s mother. A dream that became a trauma During his stay at the front, Redney kept in touch with his young daughter via video calls. The girl called the trench where he was hiding a “hole”. “I can’t leave the house, she keeps calling and saying: ‘Daddy, did you go to the hole again?’”, he reported. Back in Brazil, ex-combatants try to get back to their routine. Redney still suffers from memories of the war. “Maybe with her daughter around things will change a little. She makes the day lighter,” he said. Baiano goes to war in Ukraine in search of adrenaline, loses 28 kg and runs away to return Reproduction/TV Globo Brazilians are lured into war in Ukraine with false promises and report torture, hunger and regret; VIDEO ‘I learned everything I know about guerrilla warfare in Ukraine’: Brazilian went to war without military experience, and says that anyone who tried to escape was tortured The war in Ukraine is approaching its fourth year, and the attacks continue. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, since the start of the war, 19 Brazilians have died in Ukraine. Another 44 are missing. The Ukrainian embassy in Brazil reported that it does not recruit Brazilians and that anyone who enlists has the same rights and duties as a Ukrainian citizen in military service. Baiano goes to war in Ukraine in search of adrenaline, loses 28 kg and runs away to return Reproduction/TV Globo See the full report in the video below: 4 years after the start of the war, Brazilians still enlist in the Ukrainian army Listen to the Fantástico podcasts ISSO É FANTÁSTICO The Isso É Fantástico podcast is available on g1 and the main podcast apps, bringing great reports, investigations and fascinating stories in podcasts with the journalism seal of the Fantastic: depth, context and information. Follow, like or subscribe to Isso É Fantástico on your favorite podcast player. Every Sunday there’s a new episode. PLEASURE, RENATA The podcast ‘Prazer, Renata’ is available on g1 and the main podcast apps. Follow, subscribe and enjoy ‘Prazer, Renata’ on your favorite platform.

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