[bad_username]

I recently became a solution architect after pursuing this goal for quite a number of years. I love what I do, perform well, have good work-life balance, solve cutting edge technical problems, the pay is great. Wife, kids. Healthy and fit. So, enjoy your nice life, right?

The problem: am Ukrainian. It currently looks like I can get mobilized soon and go to war. If that happens, chances are that what awaits is not domain driven design and distributed systems but trench warfare. Even though I am likely to survive, my mental health and capacity for intense intellectual work may be permanently reduced.

Not just me: it's a trend. Ukraine is a major software engineering hub. The war doesn't care. Tons of talented people have to stop what they do and go defend the nation from the russian horde. Such a striking contrast where you can have cloud solutions and Ww1 style fighting within weeks from each other. Puts things into perspective.

[drakonka]

I'm really sorry you're in this position. My family left Ukraine when I was 12. Even sitting safely in another country and thinking about family members under bombing and occupation has given me countless sleepless nights over the last year; I can't even begin to comprehend what you and others who are actually there are going through. I recently read about several people in my industry who went to fight and lost their lives; it makes me feel emotionally stunted or something because for the life of me I still can't seem to mentally grasp the fact that someone was working as a game developer one day and getting killed in an invasion the next.

I hope you and your loved ones make it through this alive and healthy.

[bosch_mind]

This is a good reminder, at least for me, to think about life outside my bubble. Wishing you a safe and healthy year.

[tw98521358]

Is it too late to escape and help the war with money instead of sacrificing your body/life/mind?

[p1esk]

Not too late, but not easy: https://www.dw.com/en/how-ukrainian-men-try-to-get-around-th...