KARLIVKA, Ukraine – Night was falling when Yura started back to base, having dropped off essential supplies to Ukrainian units holed up in the bullet-riddled town of Pisky. As he weaved his car between potholes on a lonely country road, a sniper opened fire out of the darkness.

Bullets

raked one flank of the car, punching through the side bumper, puncturing a tire

and shattering a wing mirror and the car’s lights. Miraculously, Yura and his

passenger, Natasha, escaped unharmed.