Paranaense reports 20-day routine in a bunker during the Ukrainian war Hiding in a hole covered with wood, canvas and earth, Marcelo Andrade, 37, from Paraná, spent around 20 days near the front line of the war in Ukraine. The volunteer fighter says he faced a lack of water, food shortages and constant drone attacks. At the end of the mission, I had lost 10 kilos. "I spent around 20 days in the position. I spent three days without water and lost 10 kilos during that period", he said. Marcelo was born in Cascavel, in the west of Paraná. He had lived in the United States for a year and traveled to Ukraine in February this year with the expectation of working as a combat medic, due to his experience as a firefighter for the Civil Defense of Paraná. However, on his first mission, he was sent to the front line of the infantry – where there are soldiers who occupy trenches, defensive positions and advance into enemy territories. ✅ Follow g1 Foz do Iguaçu on WhatsApp In a video sent to g1, he shows the inside of the bunker where he remained during part of the mission. The images show an improvised space, excavated in the ground and adapted with tarpaulins and protective materials. There, Marcelo and four other men are heating rainwater with chocolate to feed themselves. Watch above. "It's basically a hole in the ground. We often build it ourselves, covering it with wood, canvas and earth. There is no light or comfort", he reported. Marcelo spent 20 days in a bunker Personal file The first mission took place just three weeks after landing in the country, in the Zaporizhia region, one of the closest areas to Russian forces. "It's an extremely dangerous region. Of the group that trained with me, half died," he said. According to him, the biggest difficulty was not the direct combat, but the lack of supplies. Ukrainian troops are supplied by drones and, when equipment is shot down, soldiers can go days without receiving food or water. "Baths practically don't exist on the front lines. I went about 40 days without showering," he said. The routine, according to him, is marked by isolation. The fighters remain hidden most of the time and only leave shelter when necessary. Also read: UFO in Paraná: Influencer films strange lights from his balcony and raises suspicions of UFOs Mega-Sena: bets from four cities in Paraná hit the corner and win prizes Found: Paraná native who disappeared in Paraguay is found more than 600 km from home Drones are the main threat According to Marcelo, Russian drones have become the biggest danger to soldiers in the conflict. “They are responsible for most of the deaths on the frontline,” he said. He says he witnessed the deaths of several companions, in most cases caused by drone attacks. "My friends were about 100 meters away from the position when they were found. Then several drones attacked and they all died," he reported. Volunteer wants to return to Brazil Marcelo says he has no regrets, but intends to return to Brazil Personal file Despite the difficulties, Marcelo says he does not regret his decision to participate in the war. However, his contract has a minimum duration of six months and he states that he intends to return to Brazil after this period. "I don't regret it. I made this decision aware of the risks. But I want to return to Brazil as soon as my contract ends", he declared. Today, he is awaiting the possibility of being transferred to a unit specializing in drone operations, considered less exposed than the infantry. Meanwhile, he waits for the next mission in a place called a "safe house", with the structure of a house, but without electricity. "We take showers when possible and we rely heavily on power banks to keep the equipment working. As we are in a small village in the countryside, there is a man who lets us take a hot shower at his house once a week", he says. Ministry recommends that Brazilians refuse proposals to go to war In June last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a warning about the voluntary enlistment of Brazilians in foreign armed forces, in the context of armed wars. According to the organization, there has been an increase in the number of cases of Brazilians who die in conflict or who find it difficult to stop participating in military service. Therefore, the ministry recommended that work proposals for military purposes be refused. According to the agency, consular assistance, in these cases, can be "severely limited by the terms of contracts signed between volunteers and the armed forces of other countries." The war between Russia and Ukraine The war in Ukraine began in February 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a military offensive against Ukrainian territory. Since then, the war has caused thousands of deaths, millions of refugees and intense fighting, especially in the east and south of the country. Ukraine has military, financial and humanitarian support from countries such as the United States and the European Union. Russia, on the other hand, faces international economic sanctions. Despite ongoing negotiations, there is no concrete prospect of an end to the war. VIDEOS: Most watched on g1 Paraná Read more news on g1 Oeste and Sudoeste.