The people are in war

Two years ago, an anti -terrorist operation began in the east of Ukraine. The decision was made by the acting President Alexander Turchinov, after armed people began to seize administrative buildings of Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Gorlovka and many other cities of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

During the presidential campaign, Petro Poroshenko stated that the ATO should end in a few hours. The ATO did not end either with the advent of Poroshenko, or with the signing of the first and second Minsk agreements.

During this time, 121 thousand Ukrainian military took part in hostilities in the east of the country. 69 thousand military personnel remain in the ATO zone today. For two years, 2.5 thousand military and 6.5 thousand civilians were killed during the fighting. About 1,200 ATO participants received disability. Residential buildings and the infrastructure of settlements on the demarcation line were almost completely destroyed. Hundreds of hectares of forests and fields remain mined. There was no stone on the stone from the airports of Lugansk and Donetsk, on the reconstruction of which multimillion-dollar amounts from the state budget were spent on Euro 2012.

In Ukraine today, probably, there will be no family, which the war at least remotely did not affect. A few trains towards Donetsk, Lugansk, Mariupol are always filled to capacity. True, their route is now cut. The so -called line of distinction. A line that divided not only the country, but also the fate of people.

Photo by Alexei Chernyshev:

Maxim Kozub , a participant in the ATO, fought as part of the Aidar battalion and a 30 separate mechanized brigade:

• I went to war voluntarily in early July 2014 in the Aidar battalion. I have not been a military personnel, the last twenty years I worked as a translator. But for me this is the second war, in 1993 I was a volunteer from the Georgian side in Sukhumi as part of the Ukrainian volunteer detachment of UNSO. On July 7, I came to the battalion, on the 10th I was given a volunteer platoon under the command, which I commanded for about a month. On August 5, 2014, he received a severe bullet wound. With a fragmentation of the bone, he spent four months in the core apparatus, now I have a 26-centimeter plate on my bone. In the summer of 2015, I returned to the front. I would have returned earlier if the second time our own bandits from Aydar had not broken my wounded hand. I transferred to the 30th brigade, and there, on the border of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions, I served as a department commander before demobilization in September 2015.

ATO is a war. The war with those outside and inside who tried to finally destroy the calm life of my country. The war on which I buried my friends. The war on which I saw examples of real heroism. But in this war we entered the state when state and military mechanisms, being already unfinished, failed to fail after the revolution. In this war, entitled "ATO" I saw a mess, a non -working state of the army, the practical implementation of the phrase "punishment of innocent, awarding of non -investigated." I saw the birth of new myths that are often dangerous to society. We love to talk about heroism, some pathos things ... The sacralization of the Maidan is first, and now the ATO is that many people interfere with soberly looking at the real state of the country, society, the army. I say this as a person who fought, was injured, and now continues to fight with bandits in our own ranks. ATO showed that we really lack a normal sober look at what is happening in our country.

During the ATO, we had presidential, parliamentary, and local elections. And it is clear that the theme of war, heroism, the one who fought, who did not fight, is actively used during the political struggle. And it is not always used honestly and worthy.

Therefore, for me this war is an important and terrible piece of life: both my and my country. But it’s very alarming to think about what all this will lead to.

Lilia Bolbat , volunteer, Mariupol:

• The ATO - this terrible period in our life - began with the capture of Mariupol representatives of the "DPR", when drug addicts and alcoholics with weapons in their hands appeared in the city center. Later, the 72nd brigade approached the city and blocked all the trips with checkpoints. We began to actively help our military, while hiding the numbers by car, hid, because the Deenarians followed us. Here, in Mariupol, we felt very well that this is not an ATO, but a real war. Tanks, "grades", mines ... And it all arrived not at military checkpoints, but in our houses. It was very scary when the Russians captured Novoazovsk and tanks went to Mariupol. It was on my birthday. In the morning there was a bell, of course, I expected congratulations, and they shouted to me in the phone: "Gather things and leave the city. At least move from the left bank to the right, because if the tanks suddenly break into the city, then the bridges will undermine." In the yard of the 21st century, and you grab children, the first things that come across and run ...

Forever, probably, the day of the shelling of our Vostochny microdistrict will remain in the memory, when early in the morning we began to fire from Grads. The shells flew literally a few meters from our apartment. The feeling was the end. You run out into the street, everything is broken there, cars burn, torn corpses are lying. And you all need to be pulled out of all your little children. We tried to see them less and feel less, but the children understand everything very well. After shelling, I had a contusion, and the children began vomiting. What I am most sorry about that we did not have the opportunity to take out the children at that moment. I still do not understand why we did not leave then. Probably, there was confidence that they would not shoot in the city.

The only plus of this war is that she gave me people whom I would never have met in ordinary peaceful life. People who are ready to help in the most difficult moment that inspire faith. You look at the military, you understand that their actions here and now pushing the war from your children, and no matter how hard they are, they stand and go into battle again - and you can no longer give up.

Andrei Grishchenko , Major General, head of the South operational command, at the time of the start of the ATO was the commander of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade with the rank of colonel:

• For me, the ATO is the protection of my country, the protection of my family. In the ATO, I saw what a policy is in the war. What is meanness from Russia, how the Russians tried to hide the shelling from their territory, their troops, their equipment. I learned what a hybrid war is.

It was a big discovery for me that the officers and soldiers who did not show themselves in peaceful life at the crucial moment when they had to fight, turned out to be courageous people who were ready to protect their country to the last drop of blood.

I saw in the war what meanness is. But it turned out to be much less than sincerity and honesty. There, at the front, a person can be seen through, regardless of his post, from a soldier to the general. It can be seen who should substitute the shoulder, and who will put you.

I did not set myself a goal to go through positions or increase in a military rank - all the more during the war. But it so happened that the command appreciated the work of the team that I commanded and with whom I fought together. And the increase rather received my team than me.

I remember everything, the whole war from the first day. Therefore, it is funny now to hear amateurs who analyze some fights or operations. I immediately notice a lie. Each of us, who was there and who is there now, can accurately with these paths, in places of these battles to go not only with legs, but also in his mind.

What will happen next? While Russia continues to specially incite this conflict and keep us in suspense, it is unlikely that it will be able to resolve it. But I think that the leadership of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces made conclusions from the very beginning of the war. This is evidenced at least by the fact that in such a short time many combat -ready military groups were created - brigades, regiments that are today protecting the country in the east.

Antonida Melnikova , lawyer, Lisichansk:

• For me, this is not an ATO, but a war. The real, terrible, bloody war. When she was just beginning, I had hopes for her speedy conclusion. Today these hopes are no longer there. So much anger at those who started this madness, and on those who cannot complete it.

The most terrible period was the occupation of Lisichansk - the city in which I have been living all my life. Complete lack of rights, confusion, fear ... And then the battles for liberation. For that period, we have a lot of destruction. But the worst of all, of course, is that I had to endure when I was captured.

We considered ourselves full -fledged citizens of Ukraine and tried to live according to the laws of Ukraine. And according to the laws of Ukraine, on May 25, 2014, the presidential election was to be held. I was the chairman of the district election commission. Naturally, I made all possible efforts so that our elections took place. For which both I and other members of the commission suffered. They were attacked, beaten, our commission was defeated, then robbed ... It is clear that in such conditions we could no longer hold the elections. But this was also not enough for them. On May 24, on the eve of the elections, we had never been, the militias captured me, as they called themselves. Briefly beaten and pushed into the car, taken to a terrorist base. At first they said that for interrogation, and then they reported that there would be no interrogation, the commander, now the deceased brain, told me to shoot. I had to survive the terrible clock in anticipation of something incomprehensible. But I got a meeting with the brain. He interrogated me and still "mercy". The execution was canceled, but demanded that I give him the seal of the commission and the key to the safe. I had nowhere to go, especially since we were no longer held elections, we didn’t even bring us ballots.

Now I already understand that it was not profitable for anyone to hold the elections with us and no one hit a finger on the finger, so that they would take place with us. I think that CVK knew in advance that in Lisichansk she needed to tear the elections. They had to cut off this piece of a “cotton” electorate that would vote for the same regionals. Maybe from a political point of view it was and correctly. Another thing is wrong: we, members of the commissions, were thrown under the tanks. Was it really impossible to let us understand: guys, do not strain, do not risk your life!

A lot of regret. Sorrow about the dead. Maybe this will seem wrong to someone, but I regret people from the same side. On our part, people understand why they die. On the other side are simply zombie, but they are also Ukrainians, also our people who, for some pseudo-edition, fold their heads for someone’s interests. And even more sorry for the peaceful population, which, abandoned by all, is now picked without a piece of bread. Why do these people suffer?

Andrey Gasparyan , deputy commander of the 26th separate artillery brigade:

• What are the goals and objectives of this war? The farther, the less this is understandable. To wage war, you need motivation for personnel. The highest leadership of the country needs to make a decision: if we can solve the problem that has arisen by military means, then we throw everything that we have for war; If it is not solved by a military way, then we give all our strength at the diplomatic level. We do not do either one or the other, we sit on two chairs at the same time. We have no war, no peace, no victory, no loss.

What was the motivation for the personnel at the beginning of the war? I need a country, I have to protect my house. Now there is no active hostilities, the personnel in the ATO, at least artillerymen, is mostly inactive. The military does not feel his need and necessity, but he feels that he is in isolation from the family, from the house. For two years, I, my team, think: well, we’ll have tolerate a little, the family will wait, because the country is in danger. And in the end, the families break up, and the victory is postponed. I judge by myself: I am already a stranger in my family, she is used to can do without me in two years. Many have health problems: two years have canned food and live in marching conditions - this makes itself felt.

At the same time, here in the ATO zone we feel that thanks to those people who visited war, some kind of movement is taking place, including on a civilian. The war teaches people to set a goal and go to her ahead, no matter what. Returning home, people who won will no longer bend to officials, they will simply sweep away everything from their path. This has its advantages and, of course, its disadvantages. I notice by myself that sometimes in a civilian I can rude to someone. This is a habit of where you are constantly in tension and if something goes wrong, you need to quickly make a decision and solve the problem contrary to everything.

As a personnel officer, of course, I cannot but note an unambiguous positive: this is the development of the armed forces, the development of military industry. But this development ends at a tactical level, at the level of brigades. Then a solid swamp. There are people who sat the whole war at the headquarters, they did not see it or felt it. They are afraid to make decisions. In the war, the incorrectly made decision is much better than not accepted at all. They do not understand this, and to overcome this bureaucratic apparatus is almost impossible. And to those who are afraid of war and losses, I will say: yes, many people died, but on the other hand, in auto -catastrophes per year we die more than all the time in the ATO. You need to fight and take your own.

Natalia Nagornaya , correspondent working in the ATO zone, TV channel "1+1":

• The expression "ATO" I try not to use. I think this is a war. War of the Russian-Ukrainian. And for me the beginning of the war is not this date. A full -fledged war began on February 20, during executions on the Maidan. I myself saw on the Maidan elements of the presence of the Russian military, and then everyone saw the medals that awarded the Russians. Not this date is also because I was in the Crimea and for the first time the "green man" directed the muzzle of the machine gun at me much earlier.

And I am very used to Donbass in two years. Few people know about this, but the Donbass is very beautiful. This is not only terrikons - this is a place with a unique nature. It is clear that you are very accustomed to people. Not only to the military. There will be several normal people there, and you will be so accustomed to them that you will worry all the time, as there is Katya’s grandmother in Nevelsky or our man-man-speaking girl in Vodyanoy.

For me, this is not just a territory where hostilities are held. There are some memories at every step. And over time, you get used to this territory so much that you start to get bored. Well, how can you get bored in the village of Sands? Or on a broken water? But you are not only in danger all the time under fire. They bathed in the water, in happiness fried with the guys barbecue, somewhere they were sewed with tea ... I remember the case when, on the way to Debaltseve, we met the column of the Ukrainian military, they were very hungry. There was no way to stop (not the most pleasant place), and we just threw chocolate bars from the car window. Then, probably, I first saw a truly hungry person. Or, for example, some place on the neutral strip where the exchange of prisoners took place. This will forever remain important to me.

More than ten of my friends died in the Donbass. And I don’t know how to celebrate an incomprehensible Victory Day, which will probably once be. This day for me will simply mean that you can relax a bit.

By the way, I can’t say that it was only bad. All the same, I remain an optimist. I believe in people. And she learned to perceive everything not so unambiguously. There are unbearably good people, there are terribly bad people, but all of them can change depending on the situation. There are people who are ready to cover you even in the most dangerous situation. And there is such support that can only be felt in the war.

In the war, you learn to value some things in a new way. For example, your flag. Because there are people who are fighting for him, and there were those who were covered with this flag. It became precious that you can hug someone, support someone, to give warmth to someone. Just before, probably, in such a volume, no one needed it from me.

I believe that Ukraine gave a chance to become a strong state. And I still believe in post -war reforms. Another thing is that today they are made by those whom I can not treat with trust. But, again, thanks to the war, I saw a lot of people who are ready to fight not for the distribution of cash flows (although there are also a lot of them, of course), but for Ukrainian statehood. And this is the most important to me.

Roman Kulesh , company commander of the 34th separate motorized infantry battalion:

• The beginning of the ATO found me in the military unit where I was mobilized. Then came the realization that everything is serious, that these are not just pictures on TV or conversations of politicians. We studied at the training ground, people were eager to quickly send them to the ATO zone ... When we arrived, before the first battle there was a feeling that everything around is plastic, artificial, you play a war, you did everything as you taught, but do not fully understand why you are doing this. And then the first battle, the first mortar shelling, the first losses, the first sorties, the first feelings that you can still pile, and not just get a lulier. And the most probably significant event for me is the capture of Dzerzhinsk, my first serious fight ...

Of course, not everything as we want, but the army is changing. For two years, the army became completely different. There is still a lot of scoop. Но наш боец уже выглядит как солдат среднестатистической армии Европы. Может, он не так экипирован и форма у него не того образца, но он эффективен и боеспособен.

За одно нам надо сказать спасибо Путину. Он объединил людей с общими взглядами и ценностями и отсеял предателей, перебежчиков, трусов. Стало понятно, кто есть кто. А это уже большой толчок для страны. Тем не менее общество у нас до сих пор существует отдельно от государства. Я сужу по себе: для того чтобы решить какую-то проблему, я не звоню в Минобороны или вышестоящим командирам. Я звоню людям - волонтерам, предпринимателям, знакомым. И вопрос не только в материальной базе - я имею в виду и такие вопросы, как психологическая помощь бойцам, решение каких-то вопросов с документами, информационная поддержка. Конечно, ошибкой было бы говорить, что воюет вся страна. В любом бою по статистике в атаку сами идут 20%, остальные за ними идут стадом. Так же и в обществе - 20% настроенных поддерживать армию людей хватает для того, чтобы мы чувствовали народную поддержку.

Да, люди устали, выматываются. Но в войне всегда побеждает тот, кто может дольше терпеть. А терпеть нам еще придется. Война не закончится через месяц-два-три. Нам нужно настраиваться на длительную дистанцию. Даже если закончится АТО, еще будут зачистки городов и сел, будут террористические акты, бунты, подпольная борьба, неразорвавшиеся снаряды, попытки России задавить нас экономически... И я совсем не исключаю, что возможна еще и полномасштабная война. А после боев начнется война за умы. Это длительная война за независимость, но независимость, которую мы завоюем кровью, будет настоящей, а не бутафорской, какой мы ее получили в 91-м году.