In the spring of 1982, forces from the UK armed forces’ Royal Marines set off for the Falkland Islands to fight the Argentinians.
The Battle of Two Sisters was one of the defining engagements of the ten-week-long war. Among the troops who took part in the operation was a 25-year-old Englishman named Steve Martin.
The Royal Marines succeeded in taking control of Two Sisters Ridge within a day. Later, UK forces carried out a landing operation and recaptured the Falkland Islands’ capital, Port Stanley, from the Argentinians, and soon after that, they secured victory in the war.
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Steve Martin served in the Royal Marines for four years. He started as a private and was later promoted to lance corporal
The former Royal Marines commando is now 68 and retired, but he has no intention of hunkering down in the village where he lives in the south of England. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, he has been supporting Ukrainian soldiers – delivering drones, Starlink systems, generators and charging stations to the front line.
Steve has also been persistently knocking on the doors of Ukraine’s recruitment centres, determined to join the defence forces. And although he’s been turned down everywhere because of his age, he refuses to give up hope.
Prior to Russia’s invasion in 2014, Steve’s knowledge of Ukraine was limited to the Chornobyl disaster. But when Russia occupied Crimea, his outlook changed completely.
“I was furious because the West had promised to help Ukraine if there was a war, but they did nothing to stop Putin when he annexed Crimea. I think that was the West’s first big mistake,” Steve says indignantly.
Steve was back home after a recent trip to Ukraine, so we spoke via video call. Our conversation was in English, but from time to time, he would exclaim “Slava Ukraini!” [Glory to Ukraine – ed.] with an excellent Ukrainian accent.
Steve talked to Ukrainska Pravda about his support for Ukrainians, why he wants to fight against the Russians, and the steps he is taking to sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
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The road to the front line
“I support Ukraine because no other war has ever made me feel such a strong desire to help,” Steve admits.
He has a blue and yellow trident [the Ukrainian coat of arms – ed.] tattooed on his arm, a wardrobe full of clothes featuring Ukrainian symbols, and the flags of…
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