About Russian volunteers fighting in the Donbas, they said from the first days of the conflict. And they really turned out a lot here. Therefore, we easily find for the interview a man who came from there. Contrary to popular Ukrainian media myths he is not a mercenary, and he is not even a native of the Ryazan higher airborne school. In the space Marines and equestrian Buryat Special Forces our interlocutor also did not serve.
He was the usual guy who before the war lived quietly in the city, was educated, participated in the work of the Patriotic movement, collaborated with our colleagues from the Party “Great Motherland”. And then it happened that he joined the ranks of the international brigade who fought in the LPR. For privacy reasons we do not present detailed data about our respondent, leaving in the text only his real name is Daniel. The rest, he tells himself.
— New Earth: We were told that you participated in hostilities and have wounded. Is it so?
— Daniel: Yes, I fought in the Luhansk region. I mean, I had no such plans, but when had practice, went to the city Donetsk of the Rostov region: next there were just leftovers of “Izvarino boiler.” There, I’ve seen people who arrived from the combat zone: with shrapnel wounds and children, and the elderly, and women. Just after this, a few days later, I was in Luhansk, I joined the international brigades. The wound I had received at Lutugino. The exact number I don’t remember, I think, August 29. Can show, but will not be seen… Shrapnel like this already…… and then I was said, “Go home “the three hundredth”. Relax, restores. Then, if you like, will return.” Well, actually, I came back here. I’m first to Luhansk region in Krasny Partizan went, also to help people a little. And now my friends are fighting here in Donetsk. I first, the guests, and then stayed here. And now the girl is there: God willing, we’ll marry.
— A New Earth: Before coming here, how the situation is perceived when looking at it from Russia?
— Daniel: Initially, the feeling was that, in fact, it is genocide. And it does not result from watching TV, because in reality it was still worse. We are engaged in the export of refugees from Lutugino, when there were active battles. So, the machine is full of refugees, we are not in camouflage uniforms took them to the people not to substitute. The only weapon we had, of course, just in case. And there was mortar attack on the cars… Lucky that we hadn’t got… It is normal for Ukrainian side phenomenon, when machine guns fired to the machine with refugees. It is otherwise, as genocide, is there?
— A New Earth: that is, they just fired the car, which was heading from our territory there?
— Daniel: Well, Yes. Then I’m on the level of rumors, of course, I knew that under the Krasny Partizan they shot machine with the miners and on the border they cut out entire families with children. Later happened with their mayor to speak, it is interesting still to know the truth, or not.
He said that it is. “Right Sector” when it appeared there, began the slaughter. This happened around June 2014.
— A New Earth: it is often possible in Russia itself to hear people say, “It’s been going on for too long, we were lay down sanctions, enough already, how many it is possible, let them solve their problems themselves…” Comes out, many people in Russia do not realize that this is a common problem that concerns everyone.
— Daniel: Well, this is the original personality, which if only one seat warm and the stomach full. Not enough Parmesan and the like. There are, of course, but I think they are a minority. May be my social circle is appropriate. In my opinion, the most adequate Russian citizens perceive it as a problem of their country, after all, in Donetsk and also Lugansk Russian people live. I do believe that the Russian people are fully. And even in that part of Ukraine, where we are under attack, there are those who support the idea of Novorossia.
— A New Earth: And as a party to the hostilities, had to communicate with their fighters who were captured by us?
— Daniel: Yes, of course.
— A New Earth: And what do they say? How are they here? Why have you come to fight?
— Daniel: Many were made. It was a normal phenomenon. I don’t remember what the wave of the call was, but we were sorry fighters of AFU even. They were forced. They are doing their orders, but they have no desire to fight.
— A New Earth: So really the ideological fighters of the Ukrainian nationalists you did not get?
— Daniel: Were these. They safely passed and were sent “where necessary to”. I don’t know what it was then. But the ideas were. They are basically from “Aidar” come across; they insisted that they came to kill us. Later they, however, terrified sitting. And too them it would be a pity, but if they are not did with people…
All is clear, it’s been brainwashed for many in Ukraine. Who knows how they might have been, if it wasn’t such an information campaign, which resulted in all Russians for their enemies, and in the Donbas. But war is a cruel thing.
— A new Earth: How would you describe the mood of the people who go into the militia, and now the army of the DPR?
— Daniel: To defend the Donetsk People’s Republic. To defend ideas those were from the beginning of the Russian spring. To throw these ones away, that there was no firing. Of course, there are people who go from despair. Well, it is clear why — for revenge.
But to the soldiers of AFU, which were captured, but not to the punitive battalions, the ratio is normal. We spoke calmly. It was a feeling that in captivity they are much better. And don’t have to die, and the food is better than there.
— A New Earth: And how did prisoners evaluate the Ukrainian government that sent them to war?
— Daniel: They said they came to fight with the Russian army. I invited them to discuss this point. Say, here is our international team. There is a German, and a Frenchman, and Englishman, and an American. How can that be the Russian army? There are even their fellow Ukrainians. It is impossible to name the Russian army. The question is: what are you doing here? Do you are fighting with yours? They sit and think: “But still is anywhere the Russian army?” I tell them: “Well, there is in Russia somewhere”. That is, they honestly believe what they sent to war with Russia. They believe that Russia’s fault, Putin’s fault. They all speak Russian. That was for me amazing.
— New Earth: As someone who saw the war in the Donbas not on TV but in real life, what would you like to say to the citizens of Russia?
— Daniel: I wish you all to keep patience. Not to pay attention to information provocations against Donbas. Because of there are our brothers.
You need to collect will power and support people whenever possible. If not, then at least by the word. After all, the same civil war, as now in the Donbas, “partners” with the West prepared for us in Russia. So do not think that they are different people and different problems. All is one actually.
And for citizens of Ukraine I want to say that they have no enemies. And there were not people who were going to go to Lvov “to wet” someone. The people here are just defending their land from what they are trying to impose.
talked
Lily NICHIPORCHUK
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