Sounds like a classic thriller plot.
It does.
Can’t figure out a decent reason why the bad guy would kidnap someone and bring them to the Donbass aside from being a potential human shield.
Because they are an important scientist, public figure, spy, bystander who saw too much, a Russian general's former lover.
The scientist idea would be a good idea if I intend to write the war in the east in a sci-fi setting.
The others are fair game. The lover part… maybe.
There must be sexual drama in a spy thriller! It's the rule!
Would you believe it if I told you that part of the plot involves a road trip where the kidnapped person and the protagonist begin to bond over the crap they’ve seen/been on the receiving end after the rescue?
Edited by Ominae on Jul 23rd 2023 at 9:52:36 AM
It wasn't the protagonist who kidnapped them was it? Because that's a can of worms you may not want to open.
1. Establish who is the bad guy and what do they want
1.1. How/When did they kidnap that person? How did they cross the frontline?
1.2. Based on that decide who they need to kidnap in accordance with:
2. Establish what is the national interest here for SBU.
3. What is the justification here to involve somebody from outside the country? Do they get advantages in this? Disadvantages? Risks?
Context and sense of reality also are important. The topic is sensitive and the conflict is ongoing. Remember, that while it might the fictional background for your story, but it still may be humane, accurate and truthful. People of Ukraina have agency and they have stories to tell if you are patient to hear.
Good luck
Edited by Firkraag on Jul 29th 2023 at 4:15:53 PM
Thanks for the advice.
I'll have to do the questions slowly though...
I wrote a few chapters down set in Ukraine. Basically, my story is the SBU recruited a person (at least one) from overseas to help them with a rescue mission in the eastern part of Ukraine.
Idea is that someone was kidnapped and last sighting of them was in the east.
At that point, I’m thinking that the kidnapping will have ties to the fighting there.
Edited by Ominae on Jul 17th 2023 at 8:57:52 AM