Artem Kariakin was only 16 years old when he began working for the resistance in the eastern city of Kadiivka, invaded by the Russians in the spring of 2014.
In a small town that is home to many pro-Russians (from before and after the invasion), Artem couldn’t trust anyone. So he operated alone, risking his own life to spy for the Ukrainian military and intelligence services, using secret social media accounts to provide details of enemy troop movements and weapons depots.
Already in January 2015 he saved the lives of his friends in Debaltseve, controlled by Ukraine, warning them of an imminent attack and giving them time to take shelter before Russian rockets began to rain from the sky.
Even though life under occupation was “gray and empty,” Artem told me he stayed “because he could see how useful he would be to Ukraine if he continued passing on intelligence.”
Artem Kariakin (pictured) was just 16 years old when he started working for the resistance in the eastern city of Kadiivka, invaded by the Russians in the spring of 2014.
In a small town that is home to many pro-Russians (from before and after the invasion), Artem couldn’t trust anyone.
Already in January 2015 he saved the lives of his friends in Debaltseve, controlled by Ukraine, warning them of an imminent attack and giving them time to take shelter before Russian rockets began to rain from the sky (pictured: Kariakin’s medals).
After seven years of resistance and after the death of his parents a year apart, Artem left in December 2021.
“There was a danger that I would have been drafted into the Russian army, so it was time to leave,” he said.
Their arrival in kyiv proved incredibly useful as Russian tanks were massing on the border. Intelligence information passed to the Ukrainian military was used in many of the early missile attacks on Russian positions.
Three days after the invasion, and having never carried a weapon before, he enlisted in the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces. Since then he has been fighting for Ukraine, including in the Army Special Forces, and is in contact with friends behind enemy lines who are still smuggling out vital information.
His message to the West is simple: “We desperately need more weapons and ammunition, as quickly as possible, to fight our enemy.”
At 26 years old, Artem is considered a traitor in Kadiivka: his parents’ graves have been covered with Russian flags. However, he is defiant.
After seven years of resistance and after the death of his parents a year apart, Artem left in December 2021.
Three days after the invasion, and having never carried a weapon before, he enrolled in the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine (pictured: Kariakin medals).
“My greatest wish is to liberate my hometown from Russia,” says the soldier, who has been decorated three times for his bravery.
‘This is not a dream, it is my goal and it will happen. I want revenge on all those who betrayed Ukraine and those who have stolen a large part of my life.’
- Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is an international businessman, philanthropist, author and pollster. For more information about his work, visit lordashcroft.com. Follow him on X/Facebook @LordAshcroft