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ABC News
ABC News
National
North Asia correspondent James Oaten, Yumi Asada and Tetiana Prytulenko

How a former yakuza criminal went from a jail cell in Japan to fighting the war in Ukraine

Harusan had no military experience before heading to Ukraine. (ABC News: Alina Ruda)

From Japanese gangster to Ukrainian freedom fighter, Harusan* is on a redemption arc.

The 50-year-old moved to the eastern European country a year ago to fight against the Russian invaders.

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