The Unconscionable Invasion that Shook Ronnie Apteker’s World

February 24th, 2022, was a day Ronnie Apteker will never forget, nor should anyone. That morning, millions of his adopted compatriots in Ukraine awoke to the ominous sounds of war – the result of a ruthless dictator’s maniacal plan to redraw the region’s maps.

The Digital Maverick’s Descent into Chaos

Apteker, a trailblazer in South Africa’s internet landscape, had thought his life was already a remarkable chapter. As a pioneer in internet service provision and a prolific producer of movies, his story would have been complete were it not for his fascination with Ukraine’s innovative tech scene. The discovery of this tantalizing landscape brought him to the ravaged city, and he soon established a new life. He even married a local, Marta, with whom he shared a precious son – now a refugee, seeking safety in Poland along with Marta.

Putin’s Endless Nightmare for Apteker

But Putin’s bellicose schemes had a different script for the Aptekers. With Russia’s annexation, the family found themselves face-to-face with the abyss. War became an unwelcome acquaintance, and survival a constant gamble. Apteker’s life, like many Ukrainians’, evolved into an erratic dance between Poland, Ukraine, and Poland again. Despite this turmoil, Apteker maintains friendships and tech interests in the sector that continue to propel him forward, like an unrelenting force countering Putin’s aggression.

Diving Deeper into the Rubble of War

Today, as Apteker and his family grapple with the horrors of war, our conversation is not shrouded by the darkness that grips them, but illuminated by a defiant light – a light that Apteker never extinguished. He candidly shares tales of living on the edge of devastation, of confronting loss, of the resilience needed to face the new reality.

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