War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass | Show Description
From the beginning of March 2014, demonstrations by pro-Russian and anti-government groups took place in the Donetsk and Lugansk region of Ukraine. These demonstrations escalated into an armed conflict between the separatist forces of the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, and the Ukrainian government. After years of corruption of president Yanukovich’s government, army's fighting capacity critically decreased. Many Ukrainians decided that it is their duty to fight; a number of volunteer battalions were created to confront separatists. People, often without any military training began to join volunteer military formations. One of these formations is volunteer battalion Donbass. Mechanics, lawyers, businessmen and many other people decided to leave their jobs and usual way of life to defend their homeland.
Oleg "Bandera", 19 years old, from Lvov. Worked as a barman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. Participated in the euromaidan. He says he is here because he understood that his help is needed, an he couldn't just stay and watch what's happening. Near town of Popasnoe, Ukraine, July 20, 2014.
"Falcon", 32 years old, from Donetsk. Worked as a mechanic at the service station before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he decided not to wait until enemies break door of his house, and entered the Donbas to protect his land. Not participated in the euromaidan, but decided on its position after the shooting of of people on the maidan. Is in captivity. Near town of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 17, 2014.
Burning Lisichansk oil refinery. Lisichansk, Ukraine, July 23, 2014.
Slava "Raven", 44 years old, from Popasnoe. Worked as a businessman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. Participated in the euromaidan. He says when separatists came to his town, they forced him to leave his house and took his car. So he decided to fight them and joined the "Donbass" force. Popasnoe,Ukraine, July 23, 2014.
Members of the volunteer battalion Donbass and crew of BM-21 launch vehicle (Grad) welcomes each other, after the unsuccessful attempt of liberation of Popasnoe army sent heavy weapons there. July 20, 2014, Popasnoe region, Ukraine.
Vitaly "Tankman", 44 years old, from Belaya Tserkov. Worked as a driver before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. Participated in the euromaidan. He says he didn't want war to come to his hometown, so he decided to join battalion "Donbass". Killed in action. Near Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 16, 2014.
Sergey "Klim", 58 years old, from Kiev. Worked as a bus driver before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. Participated in the euromaidan. He says he couldn't watch how they kill young soldiers without trying to help them himself, that was the reason to participate in this war. Is in captivity. Near Pokrovskoe village, Ukraine, July 19, 2014.
Soldiers of volunteer battalion Donbass having rest at the checkpoint near the city of Lisichansk before entering city. July 24, 2014, Lisichansk, Ukraine.
Medic gives first aid to the wounded soldier of volunteer battalion Donbass. 31 years old "Phoenix", lawyer from Kiev, was wounded while liberation of Lisichansk. July 24, Lisichansk, Ukraine.
"Kalina", 19 years old, from Lvov. Before joining volunteer battalion Donbass he worked as a waiter. Participated in the euromaidan. He says he want people look at him and say: "Yes, tho is real man". Near town of Popasnoe, Ukraine, July 18, 2014.
Soldiers are carrying the wounded from the battlefield. July 18, 2014, Popasnoe, Ukraine.
Yuri "Wind" (left), 24 years old, from Yuzhnoukrainsk. Worked as a barman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass and Vitaly "Aver" (right), 28 years old designer from Kiev. Both of them did not participate in the euromaidan. "Wind" says he is here to stop killing of civilians and to help his country. "Aver" says he couldn't just stay and watch what's happening, he needs to help, to do something not to allow separatists to come to Kiev and to go further. Near town of Popasnoe, Ukraine, July 18, 2014.
Eduard "Kain", 23 years old, from Kharkov. Before joining volunteer battalion Donbass he worked as economical security inspector. Participated in Kharkov maidan. He says that it is duty of every man to defend his country. Missed in action. Lisichansk, Ukraine, July 25, 2014.
Tattoo of the national emblem of Ukraine on the hand of one of the members of volunteer battalion Donbass. July 23, 2014, Popasnoe, Ukraine.
Maxim "Kopar", 20 years old, from Dnepropetrovsk. Worked as a welder before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he is here to defend his motherland. Was wounded in the arm, while trying to liberate town of Popasnoe on July 18, 2014. Checkpoint near town of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 16, 2014.
Oleg "Mareman", 39 years old, from Berdyansk. Worked as an electrician before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. Did not participated in the euromaidan. He says the war touched him very hard, and every normal man must defend his homeland. Was wounded in action. Tripol'e village, Ukraine, July 21, 2014.
Volunteer battalion Donbass forces are together with regular army forces are cleaning up a village near town of Popasnoe, Ukraine, July 21, 2014.
Sasha "Dwarf", 39 years old, born in Donetsk, but now lives in another city. Worked as a businessman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. Did not participated in the euromaidan. He says it is duty of every man to carry on war and to defend his motherland. Was in captivity, but was released. Near Lisichansk, Ukraine, July 23, 2014.
Igor "Black", 29 years old, from Radomishl. Worked as a businessman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. Did not participated in the euromaidan. He says it was too hard for him just to watch what's happening on the east of Ukraine without trying to help. Killed in action while liberating town of Popasnoe on July 18, 2014. Outskirts of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 16, 2014.
Funnels on the field of sunflowers near Popasnoe, Ukraine, July 20, 2014.