Ex-actor Ix Shen, 52, who's still in Ukraine, looks back on 3 years of war there

Former actor Ix Shen, 52, is back in Ukraine.

Speaking to Mothership over a video call on Feb. 7, the Singaporean said he was doing fine other than experiencing an unusually cold morning in Odessa, where temperatures had fallen to -3°C.

While it was impossible to tell just how cold it was by looking at him on screen, what was noticeable was the eerie peace that pervaded the 30-minute conversation that started at 10am, Ukraine time (4pm, Singapore time).

When asked if he was healthy and safe in a place of conflict, Shen explained: "The entire Ukraine is a war zone. It's just that there's no active land fighting where I am."

"You maintain a certain physical distance from the front line," he explained. "You can still adapt and live."

And live and adapt he has.

Photos he subsequently shared showed what he meant: An Asian dude somewhere in eastern Europe having a barbeque in-between air raids, as well as crossing paths with the neighbourhood children, who were performing Christmas carols.

Thrust into war reporting spotlight

Shen is no stranger to many Singaporeans, who would recall watching him on television when he started out in 1995.

And then he left the spotlight.

That is, until Feb. 24, 2022, when Russian troops entered Ukraine.

What came as a surprise and shock to many back home was how the former thespian started reappearing on social media and reconnecting with the audience from Ukraine, which evoked a sense of trauma more than drama.

Shen effectively served as a war correspondent, who provided updates on the situation on the ground in the heart of the conflict.

Viewers then learned that Shen had been living with his Ukrainian wife in Kyiv for four months when war broke out.

Suddenly, Singaporeans not only had a glimpse of a war that was unfolding, they also wondered: Would I even cope as well as this Singaporean in Ukraine?

Travelling still tough

Shen has since managed to leave Ukraine and re-enter the country, as he was back in Singapore in February 2023 for the first time after the war broke out.

He had returned here to meet friends and family.

But travelling around Ukraine, according to him, has been and is still tough.

In fact, it has been more difficult than, say, gaining access to food.

Which was why Shen said he wished he had better prepared himself beforehand when it came to getting around.

Shen said: "We received a lot of reports that there was a large military build-up along the border before the war. So, we already started stocking up in terms of food and supplies."

"The only thing I wished I had prepared better for, was actually a form of mobility."

Currently, to even get out of Ukraine, one has to travel by land to Poland, Romania or Hungary first, before flying out, Shen explained.

The journey by road to those countries to catch a flight, would result in more travelling time, especially if one were to travel out of Ukraine and to return again later on.

Did not make it back to Singapore for CNY

But this was not the reason why he was not back in Singapore for Chinese New Year.

Shen explained: "It's because my wife's grandmother just passed away from natural causes due to old age. I would just rather be here to help and support them in any way possible."

Being an actor came in handy?

Anecdotes, such as how Shen and his wife, Natalia, had to hide in a bunker with frightened Ukrainians for several weeks, have been put down on paper and shared publicly.

His 232-page autobiography, "Impressions Of An Invasion – A Correspondent In Ukraine", was out on Nov. 21, 2024.

But what many have probably been wondering, is if his previous vocation as an actor has ever come in handy.

When asked if his former profession had prepared him for the adverse conditions or got him out of any sticky situation, Shen said it was almost as if an auto response kicked in in the face of adversity.

He said he knew that his professional training meant that he could manage his emotions better.

"I suppose I can communicate better being a professional actor," he said.

"For most people who are not familiar with all this emotional management, especially when you have a spike, it's very easy to to let panic set in, and then you don't communicate as effectively as you would wish to believe."

Did he have to tap on his NS training?

And what about him having served National Service in Singapore? Did that help?

He said his exposure to the inner workings of the military served him well in Ukraine: "Having that military experience does help me stay out of trouble."

"I do understand what security and military protocol is, so that behaviour kicks in."

For example, he said he is aware of what a nightly 11pm curfew on civilians entails.

He said the military apparatus in Ukraine has a lot of authority over people in terms of stopping anyone for checks and generally restricting movement.

He added: "They have the right to stop and check people so there is a need to justify why one is travelling at night."

Mucking around at night is a no-no.

Why not just come back to Singapore?

Given these constraints, why not just come back to Singapore with his wife?

"Because my wife runs this traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic here," Shen said.

He added that she provides TCM therapy and treatment for Ukrainians at a time when PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is on the rise as the war goes on.

Shen helps her with running the operations.

He added: "Yes, we can be selfish and just run away and things like this, but I think any medical practitioner or actually any service provider would really want that appreciation (from helping people) more than anything else."

Ukrainians also have "kampung" spirit

And it is this sense of the collective "kampung" spirit, expressed through the individual effort of many, that has impressed Shen the most.

One of his takeaways so far has been the "can do" attitude of Ukrainians, who chip in together to help one another in times of crisis.

This, he regards, is one of the most precious commodities.

According to him, he has seen how the men are the ones who collect and chop wood, while the women will see to the cooking in large pots.

Everyone will then share the food as a group to collectively grind out the tough period of time together, he said.

Individually, it would have been impossible.

Collective spirit sees people through

These moments have also become fodder for introspection for Shen.

He said there are almost never any single heroes who will emerge during conflicts, but it is the collective action of many that would see the community through.

He said: "It's only when I experienced a full-scale invasion in Ukraine that I saw how important Total Defence can be, because it requires collective effort from everyone."

"And there is no individual hero. It's just not possible."

And being in Ukraine has brought a sharper focus on what peace entails and the effort needed to keep it.

"When I come back to Singapore now, I feel that it's something that Singaporeans tend to take for granted, because it will do just by default, assume that peace and stability will always be there," Shen said.

"I do not want to cause any panic, but it's something that should not be taken for granted, because it has to be continually maintained through effort by a lot of people."

Top photos by Ix Shen