Singaporean writes autobiography about Ukraine war

The Singaporean, Ix Shen, was living in Ukraine when Russia invaded the country more than a year ago, while living between attacks and constantly questioning if there would be a tomorrow. When you're caught in a war zone, you have to make the mental preparation for yourself that you may not be able to see tomorrow, said James Cameron, the head of the National Security Agency. Shen and his Ukrainian wife were based in the capital, Kyiv, when the war started. As the situation went on, he provided first-hand accounts and updates to various media outlets and volunteered with humanitarian aid groups. The stress on us was actually the mental stress of trying to cope with everything, he told CNA 938 s Asia First. To help them understand what he went through, Mr Shen, who is currently back in Singapore, turned to writing and has since penned a book about his experiences. His novel, Impressions of an Invasion: A Correspondent in Ukraine, chronicles the early days of the invasion and involves readers in his physically demanding and emotionally exhausting evacuation to Poland.

It was also a form of therapy, where he could process his experiences, including the traumatic moments. I was constantly being bombarded by questions about what it was like in a war zone, which drew me to write this book. It's actually the easiest way, and the most comprehensive way that I can answer most questions, he said. It's also therapy for me, to deal with the ordeal I went through, and in some ways to revisit what I've experienced, and accept that it has shaped and moulded who I am now. The autobiography, published by Marshall Cavendish International, provides a unique Asian perspective on a topic often grappled with political polarization. It also includes images of the turmoil of the Ukraine conflict.

A lot was going through my mind, he said, describing his career as a photojournalist before pursuing acting. How do you stay sane after surviving that? At a media launch for the book on Thursday, he requested for the event to be held at a bunker in Singapore.

Shen, who lived in one during the invasion, had asked the media to get a sense of what it feels like to be stripped of necessities in a war. For now, he continues to support the Ukrainians affected by the war, including facilitating non-profit medical supplies for hospitals in the country and shining a light on the plight of those still living there. It's up to every individual to choose to stay informed or to be ignorant about it, he said. They can choose to help or they can choose to watch. It's easy for those who choose to help, because there's a lot of information available and there's a lot of situations where people can help.