Essays by Emmet Brett

Humility, Hubris, and the Future of European Defence

Humility, Hubris, and the Future of European Defence

I asked Alex how I might better help Ukraine. His suggestion surprised me: ‘Teach our soldiers English.’ His idea was that they needed something to look forward to after the fighting stopped, and their best skills now were as soldiers; they could apply their combat experience in security jobs abroad, as he himself had done in Afghanistan.

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29.06.2026
Journalism’s war problem – what to do when we need you

Journalism’s war problem – what to do when we need you

Emmet Brett (a pseudonym used for the author's personal safety) — is a British veteran of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In this text, he shares his reflections on the war and the recruitment process from the perspective of a foreign volunteer veteran.

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11.03.2026