In the West, we often hear much about the war in Ukraine, its dire situation, the viability of a Ukrainian victory, and the many reasons why we must support Ukraine. Most mainstream media outlets push this contention particularly hard, which leads many people, like myself, to skepticism.

Being pragmatic, I decided to see this for myself. Armed with a press pass and fueled by Busch Light and ambition, I set off for Ukraine to get the “real” story.
This was not my first trip to Ukraine, nor my first one during the war. I had previously visited the town of Lviv in January 2023, a beautiful city just about 70 miles from the Polish border. However, on this trip, I decided to head deeper into Ukraine—to the front in Kharkiv, a city that has been bombed by Russia almost daily since mid-August.
Ukraine is not the most accessible country to which to gain access. There is no commercial air travel into the country, leaving only bus routes and allegedly train routes (I have yet to find them). The path I took is one that many other travelers take. Boarding an early morning bus in Krakow, Poland, and making the 7.5-hour journey to Lviv.
While waiting for the bus in Poland, spotting those partaking in the war effort is easy. Here, I ran into two English medics who went by the names Bones and Nightingale (Stephen and Sarah, respectively). While making idle conversation, I discovered that they were volunteers, and this was their 5th “deployment” to Ukraine to train soldiers in combat medicine. Particularly specializing in the treatment of tension pneumothorax (sucking chest wounds).
While speaking with them, I was shown several videos and pictures and regaled with many stories of their time in Ukraine. One I found particularly interesting was one that seemed to violate many of the rules of war.
They had recounted how their ambulance (clearly marked as such) had its tires shot out by Russians and was the target of an RPG attack on separate occasions. Now, there is a certain “fog of war” aspect that one must reconcile while listening to stories like these. However, some of the photos clearly suggest that the ambulance would be incredibly hard to mistake for a military vehicle.
Equally concerning, these two showed me pictures of themselves posing with weapons and recounted how at times they were even issued weapons when sent to particular areas. Piquing my interest as this directly violates Geneva Conventions, I asked if they had the opportunity to fire them and further if they had the opportunity to fire them at Russians, which they responded to affirmatively.
Now, they could have just been talking a big game or trying to make themselves out to be more high-speed than they are. Especially considering they were speaking to an American who was also waiting to board that bus into a warzone with them.
All of this begs the question: Why would these people leave a peaceful life to go into a combat zone in a country they have no ties to and for a people they share no cultural common ground with? Well, the answer to that, in my opinion at least, is twofold.
One, they have a lust for adventure, much like myself, and want to do exciting things with their lives, and honestly, who can fault them for that? Two, Ukraine is actually an incredibly beautiful country. Once you get past the corruption, the people are truly amazing, and the countryside, while not burning, is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, it reminds me of parts of Appalachia.
Once the bus arrived in Lviv, we parted ways, with them heading onto Kyiv and me boarding a 15-hour train to Kharkiv, a city that sits a little under 20 miles from the Russian border.
After arriving in Kharkiv, I checked into my hotel and explored the area, and interviewed the locals. The first place I headed was the city center. In the city center, you can see evidence of Russian attacks. Bombed-out buildings, damaged church steeples, and anti-tank barricades lined the sidewalks (odd placement, but whatever).
There were abundant signs and warnings not to take photographs of the damaged buildings, but I don’t read Cyrillic nor speak Ukrainian, so I consider that a mulligan on my part and, in the interest of journalistic integrity, choose to include these photographs.
One thing that was very interesting, though, is that with the amount of news coverage regarding Russia’s attacks on Ukraine and the constant onslaught of glide bombs and missiles, you would figure the damage would be much more widespread and pronounced. In reality, much of the damage looks almost normal for parts of Houston’s 5th ward or Spring, Texas, even.
This got me thinking. Clearly we are being told a hyperbolic story of what is actually going on. Furthermore, why is Russia attacking these seemingly random, unimportant targets? They are a first world nuclear military power, how are they not doing more damage?
Well, the answer might be a bit more nuanced than one might think. Given the many sanctions placed on Russia over the past decade (remember, they originally invaded Ukraine in 2014) they’ve had to retool their economy. What better place to grow your economy than the military-industrial complex? After all, we do it exceedingly well here in the United States.
When one approaches the war through that lens, it starts to make a bit more sense. Why aren’t they hitting the railways, the multimillion-dollar Nikolsky Mall in downtown Kharkiv, or the many other infrastructure pieces that the civilian populous so greatly enjoy?
Don’t get me wrong, they most definitely have been bombing power plants, and much of the city runs on generators, but why not hit these softer targets during the night when civilians aren’t present? If I were Putin and I wanted the populous to gain resentment towards their government and seek a rapid close to the wat, I’d hit these places. Not some poor farmers’ houses or the Ukrainian version of Section 8 housing blocks.
So now onto what we Americans really care about: our money. This evidence sincerely begs the question as to why we have funded Ukraine to such a degree that it is now the second-largest military by capital expenditure in the world. And even more so, why aren’t they doing a much better job?
There are a few potential answers I can offer. First, the money is most definitely being stolen. Ukraine is notoriously corrupt and always has been. It is unrealistic to think that even two-thirds of the money we send makes it to where it should go. Two, they just aren’t good fighters, and the command itself doesn’t have the zeal or ambition to win. They, too, just want it to end and are likely becoming disillusioned with the proposition of restoring their borders to pre-2014 lines.
A third answer is that everything happened so fast that Ukraine legitimately was unprepared and took too long to organize. Resulting in mass inefficiency and waste. This has been explained to me many times by folks here fighting and helping since the invasion started. The medic, Bones, who I had met on the bus to Ukraine had put it well saying “it was initially like call of duty. A bunch of dumb kids came here to fight, no one had any kind of organization, and a lot of people died because of it”. This really would explain the immense drag and slow pace Ukraine is having now, even post-funding and post-supply of advanced weapons from the West.
So what is going to happen? How does this thing end, and what will that look like?
The best possible solution is an electoral victory by President Donald Trump, and under his leadership seeing an end to the Ukraine war that prevents further loss of life. Will everyone like that solution? Absolutely not. Particularly not the Ukrainian nationalists that have unrealistic visions for Ukraine, nor the American Military Industrial Complex that has been making a killing supplier the war effort.
Even more likely, an outcome in the aforementioned scenario is that Russia will keep the newly acquired Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Many of the Ukrainians that stayed in these areas were ethnic Russians, wanted to be Russian, and many even operated as insurgents in support of the Russian war effort. It’s almost akin to secession, if they want to leave let them. What is often forgotten by the West is that many of these borders were drawn arbitrarily after the Cold War. These are young countries, as their borders stand today, and the lines drawn 30 years ago don’t necessarily align with the regions’ cultures and sentiments. Same thing with the Middle East and the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Many of the conflicts we see today can be traced back to arbitrary line drawn by people who knew nothing of the region, its people or historical conflicts.
Another potential end to this war is that Russia agreed to a ceasefire, and the lines go back to how they were in 2014. Russia keeps Crimea, and no further territory gains in Ukraine. This is less probable than the first proposition but more probable than the next.
The final potential outcome is that Russia acquiesces to the West’s demands, cedes control of Crimea and occupied territories in Luhansk and Donestsk, and Ukraine effectively sees its immediate post-Soviet borders restored. This is highly unlikely as it would require Russia to admit defeat and would end the decade-long war that so many in the West have been profiting from.
Where can we go from here, and what can we as Americans do? It boils down to one thing. VOTE. Vote for President Donald Trump in November, vote for peace, vote for candidates who promise to put America FIRST! The world will always be messed up, and people will always be at odds with their neighbors, but there is little reason for us to be dragged down by this mess. We are supposed to be the shining city on a hill. The beacon of prosperity and freedom to all mankind. The nation that trusts in God and benefits from his divine providence. We cannot lose that. We cannot lose who we are. This war, and many others, is raging worldwide, and our involvement in them only weakens us. We are a nation founded by the people, of the people, and for the people, a guiding ethos to which we should not stray.
Mike Billand: A Texan’s Journey in Politics and Business
Mike Billand, a dedicated Texan from Mont Belvieu, has always been passionate about his community and the political landscape. His journey in politics took a significant turn during his 2022 congressional campaign when he faced an unexpected personal challenge—a stroke. Despite this setback, Mike’s commitment to public service and his conservative values remained unwavering.
Before his foray into politics, Mike established himself as a successful entrepreneur. He owns U.S. First, LLC, a company that specializes in harnessing the power of social media to enhance political campaigns. With an innovative approach, U.S. First, LLC provides candidates with cutting-edge campaign management software, streamlining essential functions such as donation processing, website management, social media coordination, and volunteer organization. This comprehensive platform simplifies campaign operations and allows candidates to focus on connecting with voters and advancing their messages.
Mike withdrew from the congressional race following his stroke but did not step back from political engagement. He took on volunteer roles that demonstrated his unwavering commitment to conservative values and his desire to support candidates who align with his beliefs. He volunteered for Alan West’s campaign for Governor and took on the role of Treasurer for Sandra Whitten’s congressional bid in Texas’s 28th district. These positions allowed him to contribute significantly to local politics and support candidates who resonate with his vision for Texas.
In addition to these roles, Mike has devoted countless hours to local campaigns in Chambers County, Texas, where he currently resides. His grassroots efforts have made a noticeable impact, as he rallies support and mobilizes voters to engage in the democratic process. Mike’s dedication to his community exemplifies the spirit of public service, showcasing his belief that every citizen can contribute to shaping the future of their state and country.
Outside of his political endeavors, Mike is also an avid traveler, constantly seeking new experiences and perspectives. His travels have taken him across the globe, and he has developed close ties with the FPO party in Austria. Through these connections, Mike actively engages with EU officials to discuss the advancement of conservative ideology on an international scale. His efforts to promote conservative values worldwide reflect his belief in the importance of unity among like-minded individuals, regardless of geographical boundaries.
Mike’s journey is marked by resilience, commitment, and a deep-rooted belief in the principles he champions. Despite facing challenges, he has steadfastly advocated for conservative values, leveraging his professional expertise to empower candidates and contribute to the political discourse. His active participation in local campaigns and his innovative business solutions position him as a significant player in the Texan political landscape.
As he looks to the future, Mike Billand strives for excellence in his business and political endeavors. His story inspires many, demonstrating that challenges can be overcome and that dedication to one’s principles can drive positive change within a community and beyond. Whether through his business, volunteer work, or international collaborations, Mike remains committed to making a difference, embodying the spirit of a true Texan leader.