Don’t let yourself lose: how service members can avoid financial traps
A plastic cup of tea, a book, and half an hour of silence — that’s what helps a sniper reconnect with himself and remember there’s life beyond the front line. In a ruined house on the line of contact, he reads the Stoics. A few houses away, someone else dives into fantasy or romance. Because a book at the front is also about survival: it helps to ease the nervous system, meet cultural and intellectual needs, and even start planning for the future.
According to Cultural Forces, among the more than 44,000 books delivered to service members under the "Book to the Front" project, there is demand for titles that present the basics of financial literacy in an accessible way, help readers understand where to invest, how to make indirect investments, and how to build financial reserves for themselves and their families. It is also one of the ways to overcome gambling addiction.
Today, "Book to the Front" means tens of thousands of stories that have reached soldiers’ hands — and one broad effort to stitch civilian life together with military life. Cultural Forces are therefore working to launch a new track, "Book from the Front." How it works now and what is planned in the near term, in a conversation with those who read and those who help supply service members with literature.
Kyrylo Lukash, service member and communications manager at Cultural Forces:
— When you launched this project, did you consider that people fighting in the war might simply not have time to read?
— Of course, there were doubts. On the other hand, Cultural Forces includes soldiers with combat experience who know that infantrymen, assault troops, or any other fighters do have downtime while waiting for missions and during that time, it’s perfectly possible to read.
Besides, there were actual requests for books. I know this from my own volunteering experience when you arrive with another batch of food or clothing, the guys often ask for a book as well.
So when the project was being launched, the main question wasn’t whether they would read, but how large-scale it could become, where exactly to deliver the books. Should it be libraries, or the front line itself? Especially since we already had mobile teams working then, able to hear those requests directly from soldiers.
Overall, the Book to the Front project is about "stitching" together two worlds — civilian and military. To collect books, we work with a civilian audience, and then those books reach the troops. We always ask people who donate books at festivals or through partner bookstores to leave a short message for a soldier — someone they’ll probably never meet. It’s a simple act of care, like writing a kind note to a friend when you give them a book. And those messages deeply resonate with service members.
— Did you also leave such messages in books yourself?
— Yes, I wrote in one of them: "Let’s stay together." I believe it’s one of the most important hashtags for Ukraine, to stay united: civilians and military, us and the world, us and Europe. "Let’s stay together" feels like a big concept to me.
— What was this book about?
— Terry Pratchett’s Hogfather. A witty, ironic fantasy. In fact, fantasy and sci-fi really click with soldiers.
Although we always emphasise that each book finds its own reader, because people have very different tastes. And the army is the growth of society. Some people want science fiction, others want something else. This is perhaps a kind of escapism, an escape from the reality around us.
We often joke that a book at the front is a legal way to go AWOL.
— Why?
— Because it lets you escape anywhere. If you love Sherlock Holmes, you can go to Victorian England; if you love sci-fi, you can fly to Mars. And all of that is perfectly legal, no violation of military regulations.
That’s why every book finds its reader. I know poetry really resonates with soldiers. Such books are often requested in hospitals. Poetry is a shorter form, easier to read. Besides, when a soldier is recovering, especially after a concussion, poems work well in a therapeutic sense.
Veteran literature is also popular, because soldiers look for people like themselves among the authors. There’s a strong recognition effect, someone went through a similar story, had a commander like the one described in the book, or experienced something alike.
We’ve often heard from service members that they started reading only during the war and sometimes in genres they used to dislike. For example, someone who couldn’t stand fantasy before now devours it.
Among our readers are also those who love books and read regularly but simply don’t have physical access to new titles. That’s why, during book drives at festivals, we talk about what’s most needed if people ask what to donate. We try to make sure our book collection points and stands are represented at every book festival held in Ukraine.
— I’ve heard psychologists say that during wartime, it’s best to avoid watching films depicting combat or war-related situations. Yet you say that people read war books written by other soldiers or veterans. Doesn’t that risk further psychological trauma?
— On one hand, there’s such concern. But on the other hand, it’s a voluntary process. We talk to the soldiers, ask what they’d like to read, and they ask us about the books we bring. Some say they don’t want anything about war, they just want something light. Sure, here’s something light.
Among other things, we once had a massive romantic novel. We carried it around for quite a while, thinking some woman would eventually take it. Instead, a big, broad-shouldered warrior picked it up.
And recently, writer Max Kidruk told us that a military psychologist from one of the brigades thanked him for his bestseller "Colony." After a certain combat operation, the unit found itself in a "psychological pit," and that 900-page novel helped them climb out of it.
— Are historical books popular?
— Yes, they are. And that means this project also carries an educational mission. For example, Yaroslav Hrytsak’s "Overcoming the Past: A Global History of Ukraine" is quite popular, as is Vasyl Shkliar, whose historical novels are consistent bestsellers.
— Who reads more: young people or older people?
— Absolutely everyone. There’s no age distinction. By the way, at one of the panel discussions at the Book Arsenal festival, there was a question about social media and books. The discussion itself was dedicated to books, but someone asked: why do we even need books when everyone is into TikTok?
One of our speakers, Ostap Ukrainets, replied that books at the front are needed precisely because TikTok exists. When you stop consuming that constant stream of information, you no longer need the endless flicker in front of your eyes. TikTok, so to speak, doesn’t allow true escapism, it doesn’t create that atmosphere where you can "fall" into a story and spend time in another world, away from your immediate reality.
Films can’t do that either, they end, and that’s it. But a book is a prolonged story. Our brains fire differently when we read.
Speaking for myself: before the full-scale invasion, I was what you could call a "digital reader." I was perfectly fine with audiobooks, reading on my phone or an e-reader. But since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, my physical library has grown by more than 140 printed books. I think that says something, a book still has roots in the ground. It helps you believe that war, after all, is a temporary condition.
— How many books have been delivered to the military since the project began?
— We’ve delivered more than 44,000 books to the troops. But the need among service members is constant.
The project drew major attention when, at the latest Book Arsenal festival, the President and the First Lady visited our stand. They bought two books, signed them, and donated them for the military.
We sent them to one of the front-line areas, where soldiers chose which book to take themselves. The reaction was deeply moving. Political views may differ, but when the books come from the president of your country, signed in his own hand, it means a lot.
After that, more books were donated to us by government officials, including then–Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
I also always ask well-known writers and poets to support the project and donate their books. That’s why it’s developing so dynamically, it has even inspired a new literary direction for Cultural Forces. I’m now working on a new initiative called "Book from the Front", so we can showcase to both Ukrainian and international audiences the literature born in the trenches. We aim to present military culture and military art wherever possible, because ultimately, this helps shape the culture of the warrior — something we can’t ignore if we want to succeed as a state and as a nation.
— So you want to publish books written by those who fought or are still fighting?
— To put it simply, yes. But the main challenge now is how to select the texts that should be published first. We need to establish a mechanism for that, to determine whether it will be poetry, short prose, anthologies, or individual authors.
Literature is also a powerful part of cultural diplomacy. It can have the same impact we talk about both inside our organization and beyond. That’s why we aim to find literary agents and publishing partners not only in Ukraine but also across Europe.
And this is, in fact, a very logical next step. If there’s a "Book to the Front" project, and if you see culture as a component of national security, then naturally there should also be a "Book from the Front."
— Where do you plan to get funding for this?
— We work with partners and remain open to new collaborations. Within the Book to the Front project, our partners include bookstores and publishing houses. In addition, we engage in targeted partnerships based on shared values, when our goals align with those of our partners, we can implement more focused initiatives.
For instance, to address the critical need for improving financial literacy among service members, we partnered with PrivatBank.
This project is especially valuable for us because financial management is a real challenge. On the one hand, soldiers receive combat payments they’ve honestly earned while risking their lives. On the other, they can face pitfalls such as online gambling or other temptations that might cause them to lose everything. That’s why financial literacy is essential to avoid these risks. Moreover, such books can inspire some soldiers to think about ways to generate passive income even while serving, how the money they’ve already earned could start bringing them additional returns.
For this project, in consultation with financial experts, we selected five books that were sent to the front: Bodo Schäfer’s "The Road to Financial Freedom," Daniel Kahneman’s "Thinking, Fast and Slow," George Clason’s "The Richest Man in Babylon," Robin Sharma’s "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari," and Lyubomyr Ostapiv’s "Love and Budget."
— How many of these books did the bank provide?
— Thanks to PrivatBank, nearly 4,300 copies of expert-recommended financial bestsellers were purchased. Each book was sent with an explanation of its purpose, target audience, and how it could be used.
After that, the books were distributed across the directions of our mobile groups. Another of our partners, Nova Poshta, helped deliver them to the cities where these groups are based, and from there, they are transported directly to combat units in the field. A soldier then receives the book through contact with one of our brothers or sisters in arms and can read it, learn from it, and draw inspiration.
— Many service members volunteered in 2022, leaving behind their own businesses. Some are even bankers. Why would such people need to read about financial literacy when they already know it?
— Our events are structured in such a way that when a meeting begins, the first thing our representative does is assess who’s in front of them, how to talk to that person, and about what.
As a result, every event and this applies not only to "Book to the Front", is adapted to the audience. We understand situations can vary greatly. Some brigades are in high spirits after success, others have been through hard times and need a different approach. For some, psychological recovery is key; for others, motivation is what matters most.
When it comes to financial literacy books — and why these five titles were chosen, the reason is simple: they work differently for everyone but remain universally relevant. For instance, if I came from business or banking and never read "Love and Budget", I’d still be interested in learning how to manage what I earn and plan finances with my partner. It’s about financial freedom within a relationship. The book covers everything, from the first talk about creating a shared budget to topics like debt, investment, insurance, and building financial reserves. And maybe after reading it, I’ll return to my business and make some adjustments.
All five books are top-tier financial bestsellers and genuinely engaging reads. They can be used both as practical guides and as enjoyable financial literature.
— You mentioned that books can help reduce certain risks. But can they really "switch off" a person who wants to play online casino games?
— I’d like to believe they can. But there are different levels of involvement in that addiction. It’s also a therapeutic issue, and there are cases where a person genuinely needs help from a psychotherapist.
— You said you’re present at nearly all book festivals, and people can bring books to your stand to donate them to service members. How can they do that when there are no festivals?
— We have partner bookstores. These include large chains such as Knyharnia Ye and publishing house bookstores like Vivat. In addition, we provide military personnel with access to e-books. We have a partnership with Yakaboo, whose app includes a section called "Library for Heroes." We distribute promo codes that grant access to this library and give them to service members who want to read more.
We’re grateful to everyone who joins the project and helps supply soldiers with books. As a small token of thanks, we created bookmarks with a quote we love: "The right book at the right time can change a life." We handed them out at festivals in Lutsk and Lviv, and we’ll keep doing that. A bookmark is a practical thing, and people respond warmly to it, remembering "Book to the Front" whenever they read what they love.
Serhii Pozniak, sniper platoon commander, lieutenant of the National Guard of Ukraine, head of the Association of Veteran Entrepreneurs, financial and investment expert with 25 years of experience:
— Serhii, you returned to the front after a serious injury and continued to fight. You also devote your free time to developing veteran policy, particularly veteran entrepreneurship. Do you find time to read books?
— When you’re at the position, there’s no time for reading at all. But when we’re rotated out and get a few days to rest, it’s a great way to switch off. For me, it’s a way to reconnect with civilian life. We might be in a half-ruined house with rats running around, but I make myself a coffee or tea in a plastic cup, take a book, and read at least five pages. I wake up early, around 5:30 or 6:00.
I sit somewhere quietly so that I don’t disturb anyone and no one disturbs me. Then I spend half an hour sipping that hot drink and reading.
There’s tremendous psychological pressure at the front, especially on the hard directions, like we had near Pokrovsk. And this morning ritual helps me feel like I’m back home, because that’s exactly what I do there: drink coffee and read. Those three to five days of rest help you recover mentally as much as possible.
— How do you choose what to read?
— I pick books about overcoming difficult situations. Mostly Stoic philosophy — Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Massimo Pigliucci. Epictetus didn’t leave his own writings, but others recorded his words.
— Why this choice?
— Because the conditions at the front are extremely tough, and such books help you take them philosophically. Stoicism comes down to three ideas: don’t worry about what you can’t change; if you can influence something indirectly, do everything you can to make it happen; and if you have full control, just do your job.
— One of the soldiers advised me to read "Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win" by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. The authors are former Navy SEALs who returned to civilian life. He said the book explains how to apply combat principles of discipline and responsibility in business and everyday life, and how to overcome difficult situations. Are such books useful at the front? Can they inspire someone to start their own business after the war or is that too far ahead to think about?
— Such books are important and can definitely be inspiring. Many of those who went to the front will have to start from scratch. Besides, during the war there’s a reevaluation of values. Things that used to seem important, money, yachts, all that material stuff, lose their meaning completely.
— What replaces them?
— Real values. Your family, your country, friendship, helping others. Having your back covered or getting a magazine of ammo tossed to you just in time, that’s worth more than all the gold and diamonds in the world. Speaking for myself: I used to walk, and then in a moment, I lost a leg. Something everyone else still has, I don’t. And suddenly, all your achievements, all your titles and the pride you took in them, you’d trade it all just to stop the pain. Those are the things you have to process properly.
Or, say, you’ve spent three months on positions with someone, and one day your brothers-in-arms get ambushed — and you can’t retrieve their bodies. You can only see them through a drone. That’s incredibly hard to cope with.
Last summer we had a tough deployment: out of nine snipers in our group, I was the only one who made it out alive. We held the position, but… it leaves a mark. Books help you, even for a short while, stop thinking about what’s happening around you. That’s why I keep my morning ritual every day, not only at the front but also at home. The hardest part of the day is the morning when you wake up not at the front. And it’s not just me, many fellow soldiers say the same.
— Why?
— Because you’re no longer at war. Everything around you feels fake and meaningless. And men who drink and party every night, they’re not the reserve. You look at all that, and in the morning, you wake up restless.
There’s also the hormonal issue. When you spend so much time at the front, running on constant adrenaline, it stays with you. But in civilian life, it’s no longer needed.
— And it’s not that easy to let go.
— I don’t think it ever will. I used to believe PTSD was for the weak. Turns out, it’s not like that at all.
— When you talk to people who left abroad in the first days of the invasion, they don’t understand what we went through in February–March 2022 in Kyiv, let alone what people in frontline regions are still living through. In the same way, we can’t truly understand what soldiers experience, because we weren’t there with them on the front line.
— Exactly. How can you explain to a civilian what it feels like when mortar rounds land near you or when an explosion tears off your leg? Or what an assault really is when you have to leap out of your position and run straight into a storm of bullets? Or how it feels when you have to retrieve a comrade’s body in pieces, packing it into a sleeping bag, and the head is missing?
Last summer, I was in the United States, talking to U.S. Marines who served in Afghanistan and Iraq. I asked one of them, "Dan, how did you get rid of it?" He said, "I didn’t. I just live with it."
— Cultural Forces, together with PrivatBank and with the support of the National Bank of Ukraine, launched a financial literacy project for service members. You founded FinStream, an investment platform focused on lending to small and medium-sized businesses, particularly projects run by veterans and their families. In your view, how important is financial literacy for those who are currently fighting or is it something that can wait until after the war?
— It’s very important. People could invest the money they earn during their service into their own ventures or those of their brothers-in-arms. For example, in our Association of Veteran Entrepreneurs, we have a project called "Veteran Private Bonds." Each bond is an investment in a real veteran-owned business. By purchasing these securities, they can be confident they’ll receive additional income over time — while also contributing to the success of people who, like them, fought for their country.
— Can you lose money on such bonds?
— I don’t think so.
— So, while serving at the front, you can financially support the veteran community and also make a profit from it later?
— Yes, these are indirect investments. With direct investments, all the risks are on the investor. Here, the risks lie with the bond issuer.
Of course, a company could go bankrupt, but you have to look at its history. If it’s been operating for several decades, that carries weight.
— In general, when you’re at the front, do you think about where to invest money, or do you just keep it on your card and spend it on immediate needs?
— It’s better not to think about that when you’re already on the position. If your mind is on something other than completing your combat mission, there’s a high risk of getting yourself "two-hundreded."
That’s why it’s best to plan everything in advance, when you have time. A good set of financial knowledge and skills allows you to make informed financial decisions. Financial literacy includes budgeting, saving, investing, and helps you avoid impulsive actions, like playing online casinos, for instance.
— To gain this kind of knowledge, should one read only highly specialized books, or also bestsellers written by well-known financiers and entrepreneurs?
— You might miss the mark with overly specialized books. It’s better to start with engaging, fundamental ones — those that set your direction for growth and learning. Once you’ve built that foundation, you can go deeper.
Tetiana Bodnia, Censor.NET
