Tom Mutch, a Kiwi freelance war reporter and author, shares his experiences from Mariupol during the harrowing onset of the Russian invasion. He vividly recounts the bond he formed with stray dogs amidst a culturally rich city on the brink of chaos. Mutch delves into how this conflict forged a resilient 'iron generation,' highlighting personal transformations like that of Katerina, a press officer. He also discusses the psychological shifts in Ukrainian society and the evolving sentiments towards Russia, making for a compelling exploration of survival and identity.
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Dogs Warned of Mariupol Siege
Tom Mutch encountered rhythmic, frantic barking of stray dogs in Mariupol shortly before the siege began.
The dogs seemed to give a warning, and the city soon faced one of the war's most brutal battles.
insights INSIGHT
Russian Brutality from Failed Expectations
Russians expected a friendly welcome in Mariupol, but faced fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Their frustration turned into brutal, lawless violence against civilians and soldiers alike.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Kateryna: From Press Officer to Soldier
Tom Mutch met Kateryna, a press officer turned frontline soldier, who symbolized the 'iron generation.'
Her transformation from civilian life to hardened warrior inspired the book's focus on personal stories.
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In early 2022, as Russian troops massed on Ukraine’s border, Tom Mutch, a freelance war reporter, took a trip to Mariupol to take the temperature of this (then) culturally vibrant port on the Sea of Azov.
What stayed with him was the sound of the stray dogs and their "rhythmic and frantic barking, as if they were shouting a warning in unison". Within weeks, the city began a three-month siege and eventual fall but – to the surprise of many including Western powers – not just Kyiv but Mykolaiv, and Odesa held. Over the following months, resistance turned into reconquest and finally into a grinding artillery war of attrition reminiscent of the 1914-18 western front.
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