Footage and interviews from Ukraine front lines.
Despite a ceasefire brokered in Minsk between Russia and Ukraine and the pulling back of heavy artillery on both sides, warfare doesn't stop in eastern Ukraine. Russian proxies and regular army continue shelling at Ukrainian forces' positions on daily basis. In the meantime, UA president Poroshenko announced UA volunteer battalions withdrawal from the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Soldiers of the regular UA army fear this decision will turn to many death among UA soldiers that remain to serve there: "The enemy is strong and UA must ensure even stronger defense instead of withdrawal". The following three stories aim to highlight:
1) Who is really supports UA army;
2) What challenges UA soldiers face on the front lines;
3) Why UA soldiers think UA president Poroshenko's decision on "withdrawal" from the front lines is wrong
We have heard and read a lot about volunteers providing food, medical supplies, and other essentials for the Ukrainian soldiers at the front. At the same time the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and government officials have claimed that the government is doing its job in supplying the soldiers with everything they need. EMPR has decided to see for ourselves how things stand in regard to how well the soldiers in the battle zone in eastern Ukraine are being taken care of. In our search for the truth and to bring our readers a firsthand account our correspondent spent two days with a volunteer group in the Donetsk oblast. We want to share with our readers the remarkable, unique system the volunteers have worked out to provide aid to the patriots of Ukraine who with their strength of spirit, desire for justice and often with their own lives are defending our land from the Russian invaders.
Meet the charitable organization "Mother's Watch" in Kyiv. Here volunteers collect aid for the Ukrainian soldiers. Here protective camouflage nets are made, bread and cakes and meat pies are baked, stuffed dumplings and meat balls are cooked, and soup and borshch ingredients are dehydrated. This is where our journey accompanying the volunteers from the "Association of Ukrainian Veterans of Afghanistan" begins. The group of veterans delivers the goods to the soldiers at the front.
We leave Kyiv at night and by morning we arrive in Donetsk oblast. Our first stop is a small village where 11 divisions of a mechanized infantry battalion are based. Here we leave half of the goods. The battalion has been here for three months already. They are tired. And waiting for their rotation to end. Next we're off to the see the "Right Sector."
Story #1
Music is in the air as volunteers from the organization "Mother's Watch" weave camouflage nets for the soldiers and sing their hearts out. Soon the vans arrive. Food, water, and other essentials are loaded into the vans. By the next morning the vans are at the front. They are unloaded and the goods are distributed among the soldiers. The soldiers tell us that if the volunteers did not bring them the supplies they need the army would not be able to keep going for more than two weeks.
Story #2
The soldiers of the Ukrainian Army share with the volunteers all the ceasefire violations the opponent has committed, the problems within the army, and their thoughts on how and by whom Ukraine could be helped in the war against Russian aggression.
Story #3
In February, 2015, Andrei Hrachev, a combat doctor with the 93 Battalion together with other soldiers addressed an appeal to the President of Ukraine in which they called on the president to bring order to the country, to get rid of corruption, and to fulfill the pre-election promises. The appeal was full of obscene language but it hit record highs in popularity. Andrei Hrachev became an Internet star. In March, 2015 Petro Poroshenko issued an order that the volunteer battalions Right Sector and OUN must either become a part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine or leave the battle zone. Here is Andrei Hrachev's response to the President's order.
Near Donetsk Airport, Peski is one of the main flash-points on the front lines of Ukraine's conflict, defended both by the Ukrainian Army and the far-right Pravy Sektor. Despite pulling back their heavy arms, pro-Russian separatists continue to attack the town with lighter munitions on a quotidian basis.
Our contributor brings us a look into life on the front lines, where the bloody battle continues despite the ceasefire brokered between Russia and Ukraine.
FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
A soldier from the far-right Pravy Sektor stands amid the rubble in front of the administration building in downtown Peski, just over a kilometer from Donetsk Airport.
A church in downtown Peski has been damaged amid fighting.
A 9 year-old boy continues to live in this half destroyed village with his parents.
A dog left behind in Peski is fed by the Pravy Sektor soldiers.
A woman shows us her apartment in Peski on March 17, 2015. She has been living in basement for many months.
A check point controls traffic at the entrance of Peski, a kilometer and a half from Donetsk Airport.
A soldier stands guard at the Ukrainian check point named "Bridge Republic" in Peski.
Peski, just over a kilometer from Donetsk Airport, has been the scene of multiple flare-ups in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
Peski, just over a kilometer from Donetsk Airport, has been the scene of multiple flare-ups in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
A soldier of Praviy Sector after his duty. Here every day seems to be the last one.
Peski, just over a kilometer from Donetsk Airport, has been the scene of multiple flare-ups in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
Pravy Sektor soldiers regroup in their headquarters in Peski.
Newly arrived soldiers to the Pravy Sektor militia use the machine gun for the first time.
Unexploded mortar rounds like on the ground. Peski, just over a kilometer from Donetsk Airport, has been the scene of multiple flare-ups in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
Peski, just over a kilometer from Donetsk Airport, has been the scene of multiple flare-ups in fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists.
A house where Pravy Sektor soldiers once lived catches fire after being hit by a shell.
Soldiers from the far-fight Pravy Sektor enjoy a barbecue inside their house in Peski, while outside heavy shelling continues.
A soldier from the Pravy Sektor watches Putin's speech on Russian TV at their house in Peski.
A woman soldier cleans her weapon.
An injured soldier from the Pravy Sektor is waiting to be transferred to the nearest hospital.
Lev, a soldier from Pravy Sektor was injured on March 17, 2015. Five more soldiers were injured on the same day.
Lev, a soldier from Praviy sector was injured in Peski on March 17, 2015. Five more soldiers were injured on the same day.
February 15, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Nurses Lesya and Dasha live and work inside the in the only working field hospital in the hotly contested town of Shchastya on the frontlines. A mere 16 KM away is the separatist held town of Luhansk. Pro-Russian separatists have shelled the town constantly since the ceasefire completly broke down in mid january. The two nurses treat the many wounded soldiers and locals who have been injured in the fighting. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 15, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Nurses Lesya and Dasha live and work inside the in the only working field hospital in the hotly contested town of Shchastya on the frontlines. A mere 16 KM away is the separatist held town of Luhansk. Pro-Russian separatists have shelled the town constantly since the ceasefire completly broke down in mid january. The two nurses treat the many wounded soldiers and locals who have been injured in the fighting. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Mama Tanya, a veteran from the Nagorno-Karabak war in the mid 90's is now fighting alongside Ukrainian forces by going to the front lines as soon as an injured soldier needs to be taken to the rear and receive treatment. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Mama Tanya, a veteran from the Nagorno-Karabak war in the mid 90's is now fighting alongside Ukrainian forces by going to the front lines as soon as an injured soldier needs to be taken to the rear and receive treatment. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Mama Tanya, a veteran from the Nagorno-Karabak war in the mid 90's is now fighting alongside Ukrainian forces by going to the front lines as soon as an injured soldier needs to be taken to the rear and receive treatment. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Mama Tanya, a veteran from the Nagorno-Karabak war in the mid 90's is now fighting alongside Ukrainian forces by going to the front lines as soon as an injured soldier needs to be taken to the rear and receive treatment. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Mama Tanya, a veteran from the Nagorno-Karabak war in the mid 90's is now fighting alongside Ukrainian forces by going to the front lines as soon as an injured soldier needs to be taken to the rear and receive treatment. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Vitaminka has left boyfriend and family to join in the Aydar volunteer batallion and fight against the Russian supported separatist forces. She now fights on the front lines alongside men. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Vitaminka has left boyfriend and family to join in the Aydar volunteer batallion and fight against the Russian supported separatist forces. She now fights on the front lines alongside men. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Vitaminka has left boyfriend and family to join in the Aydar volunteer batallion and fight against the Russian supported separatist forces. She now fights on the front lines alongside men. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Vitaminka has left boyfriend and family to join in the Aydar volunteer batallion and fight against the Russian supported separatist forces. She now fights on the front lines alongside men. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Vitaminka has left boyfriend and family to join in the Aydar volunteer batallion and fight against the Russian supported separatist forces. She now fights on the front lines alongside men. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Vitaminka has left boyfriend and family to join in the Aydar volunteer batallion and fight against the Russian supported separatist forces. She now fights on the front lines alongside men. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Anaconda also left family and friends to join up and fight in the war against the pro-Russian separatists. She enjoys her time at the front risking her life alongside the men from the battalion. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Anaconda also left family and friends to join up and fight in the war against the pro-Russian separatists. She enjoys her time at the front risking her life alongside the men from the battalion. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)
February 16, 2015, Shchastya, Lugansk Oblast, Ukraine. Anaconda also left family and friends to join up and fight in the war against the pro-Russian separatists. She enjoys her time at the front risking her life alongside the men from the battalion. (Jonathan Alpeyrie)