---
title: "Commuting to war, Soviet-era uniforms and other observations from our correspondent in Kyiv"
description: "\"As long as there are Russian troops on Ukrainian soil...this won't be a frozen conflict,\" Andy Milburn says during an interview in Kyiv."
date: "2022-03-28"
modified: "2022-03-28"
authors:
  - name: "Paul Szoldra"
    job_title: "Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/paul-szoldra/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/andy-milburn-interview-kyiv/"
categories:
  - "Around the World"
  - "Europe"
  - "News"
  - "Russia"
  - "Ukraine"
---

# Commuting to war, Soviet-era uniforms and other observations from our correspondent in Kyiv

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/28/milburn.jpg>)

Retired Marine Col. Andy Milburn is on assignment for Task & Purpose in Ukraine and we had a chance to speak with him on Friday from Kyiv. In this wide-ranging interview, Milburn, a former Marine special operations commander who retired after 31 years of service, shares his insight into what's happening a month into Russia's war.

So far, [Milburn has written a number of dispatches from the war zone](<https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/andrew-milburn/>), one of which described the disastrous early [start of the Ukrainian Foreign Legion that brought untrained](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/ukraine-foreign-legion/>) and unprepared recruits onto an incredibly complex battlefield. In his other pieces, he provided important insight into [how the Russian military was adapting its tactics](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russian-military-tactics-ukraine/>) and, using his own experience in fighting large scale urban battles, offered a preview of what lies ahead if the [Russian military launches a full-scale ground attack on Kyiv](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russia-kyiv-siege-battle/>), which Andy wrote, would be a potential "urban brawl not seen since the Second World War."

We also discuss:

- How Ukrainian military forces "commute to the war" and back
- How a potential battle for Kyiv stacks up to other urban battles in the past
- What gear and weapons the Ukrainians are using, and what's in short supply
- On the Russian side, meanwhile, Milburn says "they're wearing Soviet-era uniforms," in some circumstances.
- And the question on everyone's mind: How does this end? What happens next in the war?

Watch the full interview below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoKdTvPdNi8

## Read more exclusive T&P dispatches from Ukraine:

- [**Russia’s war in Ukraine is far from over**](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russia-war-ukraine-kyiv/>) **(March 26)**
- [**Russian forces face two choices in Kyiv. Both will be bloody and costly**](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russia-kyiv-siege-battle/>) **(March 23)**
- **‘They own the long clock’ —** [**How the Russian military is starting to adapt in Ukraine**](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russian-military-tactics-ukraine/>) **(March 21)**
- [**Legion of the damned: Inside Ukraine’s army of misfits, veterans, and war tourists**](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/ukraine-foreign-legion/>) **in the fight against Russia (March 18)**

## Author
Paul Szoldra was the Editor in Chief of Task & Purpose from October 2018 until August 2022. Since joining T&P, he has led a talented team of writers, editors, and creators who produce military journalism reaching millions of readers each month. He also founded and edits [Duffel Blog](<https://www.duffelblog.com/>), a popular satirical newsletter for the military. Before becoming a journalist in 2013, he served as a Marine infantryman in Afghanistan, Korea, and other areas of the Pacific. His eyes still go up every time a helicopter from Camp Pendleton flies over his office in Southern California.

### Author social links  
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