By Kolbjørn Golis (in Ukraine) and Lars Bugge Aarset, Fritt Ukraina
At one of the most critical defense lines in Ukraine stands the 12th Special Purpose Unit, an elite unit that has long received support from Fritt Ukraina. Recently, the unit received a new delivery – seven vehicles and vital military equipment, crucial for the unit that has been fighting at the forefront of the country’s defense against Russia’s invasion.
Among those leading this effort is Yehor Soboliev, lieutenant and deputy commander of the company. Soboliev and his unit are one of Fritt Ukraina’s long-standing field partners, whom we continue to support and follow over time.
“Yehor Soboliev is a great example of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the face of such an existential threat,” says Natalia Golis, Secretary General of Fritt Ukraina.
“Yehor is like us. An ordinary person with a civilian background, children, dreams, and hopes. He also represents a new form of leadership that emerges in the defense of Ukraine,” Golis says.
“It is a leadership based on the freedom to solve tasks, one that shows the value of an individual and identity within a team, and a deep belief that resistance is worthwhile,” she adds.
Fritt Ukraina first interviewed Yehor Soboliev in May 2023.
We have now met with Soboliev again, where he gives us an update on the situation at the front in Ukraine. He also shares his thoughts on the harsh realities of the war, the Russian resistance, and Ukraine’s unstoppable will to overcome the threat.
Watch the full interview at the end of the article
Russia’s endurance and brutality
“The Russians have proven to be both cruel and persistent,” Soboliev explains. “They continue to send more soldiers to the front, offering them large sums to fight. Additionally, they have found ways to buy the necessary components for their missiles, which they rain down on us night after night. They are not alone either – their support comes from other authoritarian regimes, from Iran to North Korea. They keep pushing, killing, and destroying.”
Nevertheless, Ukraine continues to stand strong against this massive resistance. For Soboliev, it’s about much more than just survival – it’s about securing the future for the country and its coming generations.
“The most important thing we’ve achieved so far is that we are still alive. Part of Ukraine is still free, and we can raise our children. That’s what we are defending now. But going forward, we, of course, want to win, to drive them out of the occupied territories. To do that, we need to be better organized, we need more methods and more technology.”
The war is about more than military power
Soboliev is clear that the fight against Russia cannot be won by military force alone, but also with technological superiority and intelligence. Recent military operations are proof of this, such as the attack on Kursk and the use of Ukrainian-made drones against key targets on Russian territory, including airfields used to bomb Ukrainian cities.
“We have shown that we can carry out complex, successful operations,” he says. “For example, when we lifted the blockade of the Black Sea using sea drones that chased away the Russian Black Sea Fleet. This was crucial not only for Ukraine but also for the countries receiving grain and other food products from us. Our task now is to make this a system, a standard. We need to make every Ukrainian soldier several times more effective than the ‘orcs’ who have come here to destroy.”
New strategy: Technology and talent
At the 12th Special Purpose Unit, they now work under a philosophy that combines military strategy with civilian expertise.
Soboliev emphasizes the importance of recruiting people with diverse backgrounds and experiences – from entrepreneurs to IT specialists.
“We are looking for people who have been successful as entrepreneurs, managers, IT professionals, and leaders of civilian organizations. These become first-class leaders and soldiers,” he says. Modern warfare requires more than just the will to fight. It requires continuous analysis of what can be done better, reorganizing both tactics and new weapons, and an ability to collaborate well with others.
This is a new approach, in sharp contrast to the Soviet mindset that once characterized the army before the war. Soboliev describes how they now treat each soldier as a resource with immense potential, giving them the tools they need to contribute to victory through intelligence and technology.
“If they get the right training and the right tasks, they can do amazing things. We have already shown this more than once,” he continues.
Personal motivation: The future of Ukraine
For Soboliev, it’s not just the nation’s future at stake, but also that of his own family. His son recently started studying at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, a historic center for education in Ukraine.
“I wrote to him: ‘This is what I am fighting for.’ For me, it’s proof of why I am here – so that my child has the opportunity to live, to get an education, to invest in his future. It gives me both pride and renewed motivation to end the war as soon as possible.”
His son has chosen to study robotics and has already contributed by building a drone for his father’s unit. But like many other young Ukrainians, his son is also eager to enlist in the military. Soboliev admits that he suspects his son will do just that after his first year of studies.
“I am proud of that,” he says, “but at the same time, it’s a reminder of how important it is to end this war, and to ensure that our children have a future in freedom.”
The road back to politics
Before the war, Yehor Soboliev was not only a well-known journalist, but also one of the most prominent parliamentarians and a key architect of the Maidan Revolution – the popular uprising in Ukraine that took place from November 2013 to February 2014. He has 160,000 followers on Facebook alone.
“Yehor comes across as incredibly humble and down-to-earth. He is a genuinely grounded and good guy,” says Peter Frølich, Chairman of Fritt Ukraina.
Though Soboliev is now one of the war’s central military leaders, he has clear plans to return to politics after the war.
“I have promised Peter Frølich that I will return to politics after the war. We will build a Ukraine where people have equal opportunities, where corruption no longer exists. We owe it to those who have sacrificed their lives to create a just and free society,” Soboliev says.
This is the future Soboliev envisions – a country free from hardship and corruption, where children and young people have the freedom to grow and flourish.
Thanks to international support
Finally, Soboliev emphasizes how important international support has been in Ukraine’s fight.
“We are incredibly grateful for the help we receive during this difficult time. We are not only fighting for ourselves but for the entire free world. And we deserve this help because we are fighting for a future where freedom and justice can triumph over tyranny and oppression.”
Transport number 36
The interview with Yehor Soboliev was conducted as part of Fritt Ukraina’s transport number 36 in August 2024.
In addition to seven vehicles for the 12th Special Purpose Unit, the transport also included 200 individual first aid kits, stretchers, hypothermia equipment, advanced bleeding control systems, 600 tourniquets, and other necessary equipment for the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center.
Watch the full interview with Yehor Soboliev.
