In the midst of the rubble in eastern Ukraine, Ruslan Mokrytskyi stood with a combat knife, focusing on slicing onions without shedding tears. Despite its seemingly mundane nature on the battlefield, it wasn't a simple task. The 32-year-old, sporting a mustache and dressed in military gear, directed his fellow soldier to capture the perfect shot with his smartphone. The angle was crucial. Mokrytskyi, one of Ukraine's soldier-influencers, maintains morale during wartime and boasts 131,600 followers on TikTok.
"Get a close-up of my fingers," he instructed his temporary cameraman. "Adjust the frame lower." The resulting footage displayed his hands, marked with shrapnel scars, meticulously peeling onions. Mokrytskyi's social media persona encapsulates his dual life as a part-time celebrity chef and soldier: "A cook from the hell of war." During AFP's encounter with him, he was preparing an Italian favorite, pasta all'arrabbiata. Just a day before, he had been operating a drone in the besieged city of Toretsk, defending it against Russian forces for months.
Since the beginning of the conflict in 2022, Mokrytskyi has been at the front lines, seeking a mental escape under constant bombardment. "After missions, there were... many distressing images," he recounted. "I needed mental recovery." He attempted to distract himself with movies, music, reading, and walks, despite the danger. However, nothing provided the relief he sought. "I reached a point where I thought it would be great to film myself making fries," he explained. The video went viral, garnering three million views.
Inspired, Mokrytskyi collaborated with friends from his battalion, who would consult their wives for recipe ideas. He realized he was not only aiding his mental health but also that of his comrades. "Everyone was laughing and having fun," he described. "It's not just me rebuilding my mental state, but everyone around me." His video sessions provide a rare moment of levity in the relentless Donbas conflict, which has persisted for two and a half years since the Russian invasion.
Ivan, a fellow soldier, played with the camera, enjoying the temporary respite from the war. Typically, Ivan's nights are sleepless. "When I film Ruslan, I don't think about the war," Ivan, 25, shared, noting the added benefit of a hearty meal from the filming process. Mokrytskyi's TikTok content oscillates between cooking tutorials and unfiltered war footage. Managing the social media account offers crucial psychological benefits and keeps him connected to civilian life, allowing both civilians and his family to understand the realities of a soldier's life in the east.
Mokrytskyi emphasized the importance of family contact, stating, "If you don't have contact with your family, you can go mad." He aims to create entertaining yet war-related content, such as transforming a rifle cartridge into a pepper shaker using items found in devastated cities. As his profile grew, businesses took notice, with an energy drink company offering him a brand ambassador role. "They sent me drink packs and supported me when I was injured," he said, showing his scarred hands.
Initially, he received substantial donations from the public, but after two and a half years of war, those have dwindled. Nonetheless, he believes his videos uplift Ukrainian spirits and potentially challenge enemy stereotypes. "The Russians also watch my videos," he smiled. "They see we are ordinary people defending our country, not fascists or whatever else," referring to Moscow's depiction of Ukraine and its proclaimed goal of "de-Nazifying" the nation. This partly drives him to continue his cooking war channel, despite his rigorous soldier duties.
After a friend's death, it took him four days to regain his spirits before resuming video production. Back in the kitchen, the scent of melting parmesan filled the air as Mokrytskyi served the pasta to his comrades on plastic plates. Smiles spread across their faces.
