Teton County Library Call No: 947.5208 BABCHENKO
Kevin's rating: 4 stars

In 1994, three years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the tiny mountain Republic of Chechnya attempted to take advantage of the disarray that existed throughout the USSR. The mostly Muslim Chechens were anxious to end decades of Russian domination over their lands, language, culture and customs. Accordingly, Chechnya declared its independence from the Russian Federation, kicking off a bitter struggle that has lasted for over 15 years.
The Russian government claimed that the Chechen secession was illegal at its outset. Chechen independence was angrily opposed by Moscow, and the Russians went to great lengths to keep Chechnya under Russian control. By the year 2000 it is estimated that roughly 1,000,000 Russian military personnel had been involved in the Chechen conflicts. The fighting, though at reduced levels of violence, has continued to this day. Chechnya remains under Russian control. Arkady Babchenko’s book, One Soldier’s War, chronicles his two tours of duty in Chechnya as a soldier in the Russian Army.
Babchenko, a Muscovite, was conscripted into service in 1994 at age 18. He chose to return to Chechnya a second time in 1999 as a “contract” soldier- a mercenary of sorts- to fight in the second Russian/Chechen war. He stayed in Chechnya until almost the very end of the most brutal part of the fighting, and he later returned to Chechnya as a journalist, attempting to make some sense out of everything he did and witnessed.

Babchenco’s account of his tours in Chechnya is at times terribly graphic, unpredictably funny, difficult to believe and viciously honest. He shares his innermost thoughts and feelings with his readers, and he doesn’t shy away from discussing what he believed were his proudest moments and his biggest failings as a soldier. Babchenko’s audience meets his army buddies and learns what he thinks of his Chechen enemies. We discover the systemic cruelty that existed within the Russian army, most of the time being directed at subordinates by higher ranking Russian soldiers and superior officers. We read about the lack of food, water and suitable clothing the Russian soldiers had to endure on an almost constant basis while inside hostile territory. We are exposed to torture, theft, bribery, collusion, fratricide, and murder. We see how initially the soldiers simply struggled to survive, but with combat experience they became hardened and disillusioned about the war and the reasons it was being fought. Going home became the sole focus for many of the men. Babchenko made it twice. Several of his comrades did not.

I found this book to be an interesting read. Translated from Russian into English, it seemed to skip around a little in places, leaving me scratching my head while trying to figure out where Babchenko was going. Nevertheless, Babchenko gets his message across authoritatively. This book has something to offer everyone wanting to learn more about the conflicts in Chechnya. Additionally, anyone interested in exploring the mindset of a soldier from “the other side” that fought in an unpopular war (re: Vietnam) will enjoy Babchenko’s book.