"I consider Ukraine a European land and the Ukrainian people a European people. And it is our duty to hear the Europeans. And it is our duty to protect the European land from aggression," the legionnaire emphasizes.
Bons' family lives in France. Their son's decision came as a real surprise to them, as he announced his desire to go to Ukraine at the last minute:
Read more: The International Legion’s Group Destroys 17 Targets on the Kinburn Spit (Video)
"I informed them about my choice at the last moment, so obviously they are very worried. But of course they supported me, because they understand how important it is for me to fight here for Ukraine and for Europe."
Bons learned about the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine at the beginning of the war, in February 2022, but he did not join immediately:
"I heard about the creation of the Legion from the very beginning of the war, in February 2022, but I joined it a little later. I had no combat experience before. I was a cook, a chef. I worked in various restaurants throughout France. Reading the news from Ukraine, I was surprised at how brave the people there were. At the beginning of the war, they had nothing to defend themselves with, but they still held back the offensive and pushed the russians back in many places. This inspires great respect. Bravo, Ukrainians!
Now Bons is in his third year of combat missions with the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine. He, his team and an American Mk19 grenade launcher skillfully maneuver on the battlefield among a swarm of enemy drones, adjust the coordinates of the occupiers' positions and continue to strike fear into the russians:
"In my group at the moment there are Vivi, Tim, Roque and Zin Gher. Vivi and I came to the Legion together. Tim and Roque were in the military in France. Zin Gher, an Italian, is also with us. He doesn't let me in the kitchen (laughs - ed.). They all joined without any hesitation. We have become real professionals in our field. Each of us knows how to handle the Mk19, and so we can handle it in any position required".
As for the weapon: The Mk19 is an American 40mm automatic machine gun. Its total weight with a tripod is about 55 kg. Ukraine has few such samples - only a few hundred:
"When we work with the Mk19, what matters first and foremost is speed. We need to get to the position as quickly as possible so that we can install the weapon. We need to get all the weapons ready in a maximum of four minutes, because the main danger is drones, there is no respite with them. My role is to make adjustments to enemy positions to strike and provide support during an assault or retreat of our troops in terms of azimuth and elevation, and then place "marks" to adjust enemy sectors in advance and bring down future fire as quickly as possible.
Since the beginning of the war, Bons and his team have participated in many combat missions in the hottest spots. They were not without injuries:
"As for combat missions, we have already participated in missions not as a fire support group, but as simple light infantry. We already have several missions behind us, and, of course, injuries. We fought in Luhansk, Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Mostly in these areas.
The injury I have now is from the last mission. We were constantly disturbed and shelled by the enemy, we did not have a single pause. The russians sent us all kinds of explosives by drone, conventional and homemade, and repeatedly tried to burn us alive in the trenches. When they saw that we were holding out and they were not succeeding, they started using artillery and mortars. After several shots of different caliber, they managed to open a gap to the left of our "Pantsir". That same evening, a drone managed to throw a bottle of homemade explosives in. It traveled several meters. Unfortunately, I did not have time to cover myself properly during the explosion. Shrapnel hit the upper part of my face and eye. I thought I was going to go blind, but fortunately, a tiny piece of shrapnel hit my eye without hitting the retina. I am gradually regaining my vision and will soon be ready to do my duty again."
In the future, when the war ends with Ukraine's victory, French legionnaire Bons plans to stay in Ukraine. To live somewhere in a small chalet (house) in the Carpathians, away from noisy cities, where birds sing...
His comrades and the command of the International Legion of Defense of Ukraine wish Bons a speedy recovery.
You can learn more about the International Legion for Defense of Ukraine and join the team of the brave on the official website.
Read more: International Legions of Defense of Ukraine: Three Years Side by Side
