I struggled through this book. At times I was bored 🥱 the current situation in Ukraine is only spoken about at around 70% into the book too and it’s very Russian driven. So not sure what I think to be honest on the war.

This true account of the progressive Russian takeover of Eastern Ukraine including the Invasion of January 2022, through the eyes of a young Peace Corps American who, due to his growing interest in the county and its people, matures into a journalist continually reporting what is happening on the ground. Much of what is written has never been collated in this manner as he reported his progress in time with different media outlets.
Christopher Miller gives a very personal insight into his view of the ongoing conflict with the natural feeling that are generated when he sees ordinary civilians wrenched from their homes and communities and his Ukrainian friends killed or wounded. As he says, ‘you cannot save everyone’ but he does his bit when he can to assist in evacuating vulnerable individuals.
This short review does not do justice to this real-life account of the Ukrainian conflict and ends in February 2023; much has happened since. This book should be read by all who want to know the real truth as to what has and is happening to that beleaguered country and its people directly caused by Putin’s Russia.

A book I didn’t want to read: a book it would be shameful not to read.

Christopher Miller , currently correspondent in Ukraine for the Financial Times, previously a world and national security reporter for Politico and correspondent for Buzzfeed, first came to Ukraine as a member of the Peace Corps in 2010. That is, 4 years before the war even started (Russia invading Crimea in 2014) He was based initially in Artemisvsk, part of the Eastern Donbas. He clearly, from the off, fell in love with the country, its peoples, and its complex history, from it’s long past to its connection within and without the USSR. Ukraine’s journey was towards the West, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, though there were always those who wanted closer links with Russia. Ukraine chose independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

His long connections within Ukraine, his prior independent journalist credentials, made him a naturally excellent correspondent. Here was someone with an understanding and an desire to report truth. He had, in those days, Ukrainian friends, colleagues and acquaintances who were Russian speakers, and felt a connection with Moscow as well as those who had more of a connection to the cosmopolitan direction which Kyiv represented. History being complex, and going back a long way.

Obviously the events of 2014, where the West did not kick up too much of a fuss at the invasion of Crimea, led to Ukraine and Russia having been in a state of war since then, even if the West did not really wake up to this properly till February 24th 2022

Miller is a clear and engaging writer, and does not mince his descriptions of what is going on, there are necessarily graphic descriptions of what war entails. It is inevitably often a literally sickening read. This was why I did not want to read it, but it would have felt wrong not to. Living in a fairly safe world, the least we can do, as this war drags on, horrifically, surely must be to not look away.

Not an easy read but one that gives you a real sense of what has been happening in Russia and Ukraine for more years than we realise. The author tells the story of the war but also of ordinary people and how it is affecting them. There is quite a lot of background too to help you understand how it all happened.
There are no easy answers to how it will all end but this does give the best information on which to try and base a =n opinion

I had the pleasure of reading "The War Came to Us" by Christopher Miller, and I must say, it was an extraordinary account of Ukraine's bravery and defiance in the face of Russian aggression. The book is a detailed and insightful portrayal of the conflict that has been raging in Ukraine and gives readers an up-close look at the experiences of those on the front lines.

Miller's writing style is both engaging and informative, taking readers through the conflict from the beginning, including the protests that sparked it, the annexation of Crimea, and the ongoing fighting in the Donbass region. He draws on his extensive experience to provide a firsthand perspective on the events he describes.

One of the things that impressed me the most about the book was the way Miller humanized the people affected by the conflict. He tells the stories of soldiers, civilians, and volunteers who have risked everything to defend their country, their homes, and their families. Their courage and resilience are truly inspiring, and their sacrifices are a testament to the human spirit.

The book also provides an in-depth analysis of the geopolitical factors that have fueled the conflict, including the role of the United States, Russia, and other European nations. Miller's writing is fair and balanced, giving readers a clear understanding of the complex political landscape that underpins the conflict.

Overall, I highly recommend "The War Came to Us" to anyone interested in learning more about the conflict in Ukraine - going beyond simple newspaper headlines or reports. It is a well-written, informative, and inspiring account of the bravery and defiance of a nation under siege. Miller's reporting is both meticulous and deeply human, making the book a compelling and thought-provoking read that had me in tears more than once.