Convicts-turned-cops on forefront of Ukraine’s battle against Russia

LYSYCHANSK and STANITSA LUHANSKA, Ukraine – Ruslan Onishchenko, a charismatic chunky man with a penchant for strong language and oratory, stands before a line of soldiers at military barracks near Lysychansk.

“All of us are afraid. We all die. We all feel pain,” Onishchenko, whose nom-de-guerre is Friman, tells them. “But some people fight against this, and others surrender. I am fighting and I’m here, all cowards are over there. They can always find excuses.”