The Tweedledee and Tweedledum of Russian nationalism

By Alexander Noinets, Petr&Mazepa
09.13.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

"Vata" "Results Summary"

“Vata”
“Results Summary”

All that I will say below is probably a waste of breath. But not saying it is not really working out either. Therefore, let us sum everything up once and for all and we will try not to come back to this issue again.

We here at Peter and Mazepa are Russian nationalists. Our Russian nationalism is very simple, even primitive – “so that Russian people live well.” We welcome everything that makes Russian people live better and hate everything that makes them live worse. That is how simple we are.

And in light of this simple, open-to-any-Neanderthal, philosophy, everything that is happening in the Donbas is a multifaceted, radiant abyss of shame and humiliation, a catastrophe for all the Russian people, regardless of their country of residence.

The economy of Donbas is destroyed. What is not destroyed now will be destroyed in the near future. What will not be destroyed, will not survive the winter. What will survive the winter will be useless without what is already destroyed and stolen. An industrial region that supplied jobs to several million Russian people is finished.

And who did all this? Maybe it was all done by Banderites and Right Sector, because they hate all things Russian? No. Because if they are responsible for all this, why did they only destroy the industrial Russian Donbas, while the industrial Russian Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk were left alone? Not to mention that, is it a bit strange to call Mykolaiv’s 79th Airborne brigade Banderites and Right Sector.

Somehow the 79th does not fit into the stereotype of Banderites and Right Sector, don’t you find?

And in any case, the whole idea of the necessity of fighting Banderites and Right Sector falls apart because of one simple question: tell us, please, how many Russian people were murdered in Ukraine because of their nationality in the past 20 years? Zero? Oops. And in the Russian Federation, how many Russians were stabbed by those from the Caucasus? How many Russian women were raped by Tajiks and other Central Asian migrant workers? Oops.

No, we know who started this genocide, and we know full well. It was started by one FSB colonel by order of another FSB colonel. The names of these colonels are Girkin and Putin.

And in order for it all to burn brighter, one of the FSB colonels posed as a “white officer” and a “Russian nationalist.” And other “Russian nationalists” decided to play along with the FSB colonel, putting themselves in a position of useful idiots. And these “Russian nationalist” clowns lured hundreds and thousands of volunteers to Donbas, to fight Banderites and Right Sector. And to continue the banquet, the FSB colonel armed the most psychopathic and uneducated residents of Donbas, which immediately resulted in a social catastrophe and widespread lawlessness that was not seen in that region since 1923. And the useful idiots persistently suppressed the crimes committed by the local and visiting rednecks, by all of this pride of the nation, the Ponomarevs and the Motorolas.

In return, Russia incurred such losses in image that it had not incurred since the times of the First World War. And the inertia of economic losses that it has suffered and will suffer is so terrifyingly large that it is not difficult to say whether the hit to the RF’s economy will be weaker than in the 90s. So, literally, it is hard to say right now just how much worse off Russian people will be, how long the National Welfare Fund will last and whether it will not all run out later this year. And you did all this, my dear friends. Well done.

And this is in the RF. How much worse life has become for Russians in Luhansk and Donetsk is completely indescribable. It is very hard to be a 19-year old girl in Luhansk. It is very hard to be a pensioner and an invalid in Luhansk. It is very hard to be a state employee in Luhansk. In fact it is not possible to say who in Luhansk does not have it hard. That is the Russian spring for you. And you did all this, my dear friends. Well done.

And let’s not delude ourselves that Girkin and Putin will share the suffering with the Russian people. Putin will eat how he likes, will drink what he likes, will wear what he likes and will drive what he likes. And Girkin has already very convincingly demonstrated that, at the moment when things get tight for him, he will disappear and reappear some time later somewhere quiet. That is just the kind of man he is.

But the image losses will be carried specifically by the Russian people, regardless of their country of residence. Only the Russians in Russia will do it with pride because the clowns will tell them that they should rejoice at sitting in shit and eating shit, and Russians in the rest of the world will do it with tears because they had completely nothing to do with it, but the world will hate them anyway.

And the main difference in what is happening from, say, the tragedy of the Civil War, is that in the Civil War the aggressor was a group that was specifically stateless. It wasn’t the Russians who were the aggressor; it was the Bolsheviks, the International. And the Russians were actually just the defending side; they lost with dignity and retreated to save their nation and culture.

And in this case our useful idiots have tried to make it so the whole world understands – it is not the multinational Russian Federation that went to war, oh no, what are you talking about. The Lezginka crowd have nothing to do with this, no way. And this Strange Economic Model has nothing to do with this either, Lavrov and Krylov will both tell you that. No, it is specifically Russian Orthodox people who took up MANPADS and started shooting in every direction. There are no Kadyrovites, these are not Kadyrovites. No Ossetians; these are not Ossetians. They are us – Russian Orthodox Christians! That is the kind of people we are – if the monkey with the Kalashnikov in Donbas is killing off people with Ukrainian passports – that means it is our man, the Russian man, even more Russian than other Russians. That is how we, clowns, now define our nationality: “Russian, that means a dangerous and armed moron or ‘insurgent’ for short.”

The aim of the useful idiots was simple and cynical, and they achieved it quite well – to reframe the debate. To spread the sphere of contempt and shame that the insurgents cover themselves with to the whole nation. To explain to the world that Zhilin from Oplot cuts off people’s ears not because he is a corrupt cop who champions vulgarity and inhumanity, but because he is Russian. Well done, guys, thanks. It worked. Not completely, but the attempt is fantastic.

Let’s summarise. Luhansk is without light and water. Donetsk is without metallurgy. All of Russia will very soon be without everything, because they have constantly expanding sanctions instead of friends. Thousands of Russian people are dead. Tens of thousands have lost jobs and homes. Hundreds of thousands are now simply ashamed to admit that they are Russian.

And instead of good news you, shit-eaters, are telling us about how that’s all fine, that now without Donbas’s economy the Banderites in Ukraine are finished for sure. No doubt, here you are right – the economy of Ukraine, because of the war you have started, has gone into such free-fall that it is scary to watch. Only why exactly is this a victory for you? Do you not think, Billy my friend, that me and you have both just dined on a shit sandwich?

And look how great it has all turned out! What an epic catastrophe was achieved in only half a year by two FSB colonels and their useful idiot clowns.

The result of your actions, clowns, is the destruction of the economies of two of the biggest countries with Russian populations. And the only thing that can excuse you, is if you are not Russian people who were had for saps, but if you are cynical media personalities who are paid to do the job of the destruction of the Russian populations of Russia and of Ukraine. In that case you did not betray anyone, because you worked from the beginning as sleeper agents, and no one can expect any more from you than Hitler could expect from Stirlitz. There is no betrayal of the country and the people because you have no country and no people, but just a customer and a contract for genocide. In this case you did great, you succeeded in your mission; it will take us, Russians, more than 30 years to rebuild these ruins.

And in this situation, in the situation of obvious hell, which will end as nothing more than hell, as a burning wasteland in the place of one of the most Russian regions of the world, a hell that was created by you, sustained by you and sponsored by you, in this situation the voices of the clowns have divided.

Some, in the face of Olshansky and company, started whining that how it all ended so fast and so terribly, and we did not plan for this at all, but somehow it did not work out. Let us explain:

You see, Twiddledee! Don’t fucking cuddle with the leader of the “South-East” movement, Oleg “they beat me in every region where my movement is represented” Tsarov. You should just look carefully at his disgusting mug, and the prospects will become clear. Don’t fucking cuddle with the leader of the “Oplot” movement, Evgeniy “I am a cop and I cut people’s ears off” Zhilin. You should just look carefully at his disgusting mug, and the prospects will become clear.

And don’t think, Twiddledee, that if you start crying now, we will respect you more. No, the function of the sad clown is to call a grim laugh. You are fulfilling it.

Others, like Prosvirin [nationalist blogger of Sputnik & Pogrom fame] and Holmogorov and company [also Russian nationalist blogger], still paint the bright face of people who are not at all shafted by Vlad and his power vertical, and their life is just great, just like the life of all Russian people. Let us explain:

You see, Twiddledum. Everyone can already see quite well that the smile is painted on. You have murdered enough people to logically be afraid of leaving the house. Sit at home. Travel around Siberia. It doesn’t matter. Kychatnik has relatives. Osipov has relatives. Every one of the Pskov marines murdered by you had relatives. So did every one of the Russian Russians killed by you. Every one of the Ukrainian Russians murdered by them in Donbas. They all had relatives and friends. And they are not happy to see you. And it does not take a genius to predict your future, Twiddledum. The quantity of your detractors will necessarily acquire a quality all of its own. And because in this case the hatred towards you is mixed with decalitres of Russian blood, how that will manifest itself is generally clear.

Your bloody circus is finished, and soon it will leave town. And you, Twiddledum, are not the magician Girkin, you cannot reappear after you soon vanish. You are capable of only yapping on the topic of “Russians don’t need money, Russians need to kill each other.”

P.S. Oh look, old man Twiddledum has noticed us and blessed us while building his grave. The war was started by you, Russians were killed by you, Russians will have no money because of you, and we are the Russophobes here. Maybe it is time to end [finish] with this strange ideological model?

Source: petr&mazepa

 

Posted in "Voices" in English, Analytics, English, Others, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A center for the identification of bodies of Russian soldiers is created near Rostov-on-Don

09.12.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

According to a source at the ATO headquarters, a center for identifying the corpses of Russian military killed on the territory of Ukraine has been opened at one of the military units near Rostov. At the moment, there are hundreds of unidentified bodies at the center, both military and separatists disguised as Russian military experts.

According to a source in Ukraine, over 1,000 Russian servicemen and special forces personnel died during the end of August and beginning of September only.

Source: freejournal.biz

 

Posted in English, English News, Languages, News, Regіons, South&Eastern Ukraine, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Spot report by the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk, 13 September 2014

KYIV September 13, 2014

Russian convoy of 220 vehicles entered Ukraine through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

SUMMARY

On 12 September 2014 starting at 22:20 (Moscow time) and throughout the night, a Russian convoy of 220 vehicles, including 193 cargo trucks, entered the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP) and crossed into Ukraine in six groups. By 13 September at 07:45, all the vehicles had crossed into Ukraine. According to the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations (MES), the convoy is carrying only food products and heading to Luhansk.

The first group of 40 trucks were quickly checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. The 180 other vehicles were not inspected. All vehicles crossed into Ukraine without being inspected by Ukrainian border guard and customs officers or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

DETAIL

On 12 September 2014 at 22:10 (Moscow time), the Observer Mission (OM) observed the arrival of vehicles belonging to a second Russian humanitarian aid convoy.

At 22:10, two cars arrived at the BCP. One of the passengers introduced himself to the Observer Team (OT) as an official of the MES of the Russian Federation (RF). He explained that soon a humanitarian aid convoy consisting of 200 vehicles loaded with food products but without medicines, would arrive at the BCP. The MES official added that the vehicles would undergo a control by the RF customs and the border guard services. According to him, the process would not involve Ukrainian customs and border guard officers who are still present in the vicinity of Donetsk BCP. He also stated that the convoy was due to cross the border on 13 September at around 06:00 hrs.

The convoy entered the BCP compound in groups as detailed below:

At 22:20, a first group of 40 white coloured trailer trucks accompanied by one workshop truck, one tow truck and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP. By 23:30, Russian border guard and custom checks were completed and all vehicles were parked in the buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian BCPs (outside of OSCE sight).

At 03:50, a second group of 34 cargo trucks accompanied by one workshop truck, one tow truck and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP. The second group of vehicles joined the first group parked in the buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian BCPs (outside of OSCE OM’s sight).

At 04:50, a third group of 25 cargo trucks accompanied by five fuel trucks, one ambulance, two workshop trucks, one tow truck, and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP and joined the other two groups.

At 06:00, the fourth group of 30 cargo trucks accompanied by one spare tractor, one ambulance and one tow truck entered the BCP and joined the rest of the convoy.

At 06:45, the fifth group of 33 cargo trucks accompanied by one spare truck tractor and one workshop truck entered the BCP and joined the rest of the convoy.

At 07:00, the sixth and final group of 31 cargo trucks accompanied by one ambulance, two spare trucks tractor, two workshop trucks and one tow truck entered the BCP.

By 07:45, all vehicles of the convoy had crossed the checkpoint and exited into Ukraine.

The movement of the first groups into Ukraine must have started earlier because of the lack of space in the aforementioned buffer zone. Since this area was out of sight, the OM cannot confirm the exact time of departure of the convoy.

Only the cargo trucks of first group were inspected by Russian authorities as mentioned above. The cargo trucks of groups two to six had their trailer doors open upon arrival but were not inspected at all by the Russian border guard and customs services. Most of the trucks were marked with a Russian flag.

Total number of vehicles which crossed into Ukraine: 220 (193 cargo trucks and 27 support vehicles).

Source: OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk

Revised Spot Report by the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk (OM), 13 September 2014

DONETSK CHECKPOINT, RUSSIAN FEDERATION 14 September 2014

Russian convoy of 216 vehicles entered Ukraine through the Donetsk Border Crossing Point

SUMMARY

On 12 September 2014 starting at 22:20 (Moscow time) and throughout the night, a Russian convoy of 216 vehicles, including 189 cargo trucks, entered the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP) and crossed into Ukraine in six groups. By 13 September at 07:45, all the vehicles had crossed into Ukraine. According to the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations (MES), the convoy is carrying only food products and heading to Luhansk.

The first group of 36 trucks were quickly checked by the Russian border guard and customs services. The 180 other vehicles were not inspected. All vehicles crossed into Ukraine without being inspected by Ukrainian border guard and customs officers or the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

DETAIL

On 12 September 2014 at 22:10 (Moscow time), the Observer Mission (OM) observed the arrival of vehicles belonging to a second Russian humanitarian aid convoy.

At 22:10, two cars arrived at the BCP. One of the passengers introduced himself to the Observer Team (OT) as an official of the MES of the Russian Federation (RF). He explained that soon a humanitarian aid convoy consisting of 200 vehicles loaded with food products but without medicines, would arrive at the BCP. The MES official added that the vehicles would undergo a control by the RF customs and the border guard services. According to him, the process would not involve Ukrainian customs and border guard officers who are still present in the vicinity of Donetsk BCP. He also stated that the convoy was due to cross the border on 13 September at around 06:00 hrs.

The convoy entered the BCP compound in groups as detailed below:

At 22:20, a first group of 36white coloured trailer trucks accompanied by one workshop truck, one tow truck and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP. By 23:30, Russian border guard and custom checks were completed and all vehicles were parked in the buffer zone between the Russian and Ukrainian BCPs (outside of OSCE sight).

At 03:50, a second group of 34 cargo trucks accompanied by one workshop truck, one tow truck and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP. The second group of vehicles joined the first group parked in the buffer zone between Russian and Ukrainian BCPs (outside of OSCE OM’s sight).

At 04:50, a third group of 25 cargo trucks accompanied by five fuel trucks, one ambulance, two workshop trucks, one tow truck, and one spare truck tractor entered the BCP and joined the other two groups.

At 06:00, the fourth group of 30 cargo trucks accompanied by one spare tractor, one ambulance and one tow truck entered the BCP and joined the rest of the convoy.

At 06:45, the fifth group of 33 cargo trucks accompanied by one spare truck tractor and one workshop truck entered the BCP and joined the rest of the convoy.

At 07:00, the sixth and final group of 31 cargo trucks accompanied by one ambulance, two spare trucks tractor, two workshop trucks and one tow truck entered the BCP.

By 07:45, all vehicles of the convoy had crossed the checkpoint and exited into Ukraine.

The movement of the first groups into Ukraine must have started earlier because of the lack of space in the aforementioned buffer zone. Since this area was out of sight, the OM cannot confirm the exact time of departure of the convoy. Most of the trucks were marked with a Russian flag.

Total number of vehicles which crossed into Ukraine: 216 (189 cargo trucks and 27 support vehicles). 

Source: OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk

Spot report by the OSCE Observer Mission, 13 Sept. 2014: Russian convoy returned from Ukraine and crossed into the Russian Federation at Donetsk BCP

DONETSK CHECKPOINT, RUSSIAN FEDERATION 14 September 2014

SUMMARY

On 13 September, between 15:30 and 20:25 (Moscow time), the OSCE Observer Mission (OM) observed a total number of 216 vehicles of the Russian convoy crossing at the Donetsk Border Crossing Point (BCP) from Ukraine into the Russian Federation. Earlier today, the OM reported that 220 vehicles had passed Donetsk BCP towards Ukraine (see Spot Report of 13 September 2014). The discrepancy of four vehicles is explained by an erroneous double count of the very first trucks that had arrived to the Donetsk BCP yesterday at 22:20. Thus, OM concludes that all 216 vehicles of the convoy, which had crossed, have returned to the Russian Federation (RF).

DETAIL

On 13 September, from 15:30 to 20:25, the OM observed the arrival of vehicles belonging to the Russian humanitarian aid convoy returning from Ukraine. The crossing of the entire convoy took place in seven groups:

A first group of 35 vehicles returned between 15:30 and 15:57.

A second group of 37 vehicles returned between 16:52 and 17:13.

A third group of 23 vehicles returned between 17:29 and 17:43.

A fourth group of 5 vehicles returned between 17:51 and 17:56.

A fifth group of 5 vehicles returned between 18:20 and 18:24.

A sixth group of 36 vehicles returned between 18:50 and 19:17.

A seventh group of 75 vehicles returned between 19:45 and 20:25.

The total number of vehicles (including support vehicles) was 216.

The cargo trucks arrived with the rear cargo tailgate open. After the Russian authorities had checked the trucks, the cargo tailgates were closed and the vehicles departed.

Source: OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian Checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk

Posted in English News, Reblogged, South&Eastern Ukraine, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dmitry Tymchuk’s Military Blog: Summary – September 12, 2014

Dmitry Tymchuk, Coordinator, Information Resistance
09.12.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Brothers and sisters!

information_resistance_logo_engHere’s the Summary for September 12, 2014 (for previous summary, please see Summary for September 11, 2014).

The bad news:

1. The self-fulfilling prediction as to whether the Russian-terrorist forces will use the ceasefire in Donbas for a maximum build-up of their combat power, is coming to complete fruition. Russian armored vehicles and artillery come as no surprise to anyone. However, we already recorded the presence of the Russian anti-missile air defense systems (in particular, in the vicinity of Donetsk) on the territory controlled by the insurgents, and this is a somewhat different song.

Also in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, as well as in the border areas of Russia, the Russian occupiers are setting up training camps to prepare insurgents in a wide range of military specialties–from tank drivers to reconnaissance saboteurs.

All of this means that if Kyiv decides to continue active combat, it will be much more intense than before. However, we observe that the Ukrainian government is firmly determined to settle the conflict peacefully. What happens from it – we will see. Let’s hope for the best.

2. The reasoning behind the current rotation of Russian troops has become apparent. The point is not only in the fact that the occupiers had significantly battered our troops, and that they need fresh blood (or rather, cannon fodder). The point is in the replacement of “unreliable” elements. In particular, the newly arriving units have clearly less servicemen of Slavic appearance.

We see two reasons for this. Firstly, fewer “Slavs” amongst the Russian servicemen are burning with a desire to fight against Ukrainians. Secondly, the resonance from the death of soldiers, who stem from the edge of the Russian Empire will be considerably less prominent than from the coffins coming back to St. Petersburg or even Pskov.

The conclusion is also clear: Putin has decided to go to the end, waging war, despite any resonance in Russian society that negatively affects him.

3. The Vice-Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Groysman, stated the amount of loss from the conflict in eastern Ukraine constitutes 11.888 billion Hryvnias [USD 918 million]. He was talking about destroyed facilities for which currently there is information available (and there are about 11,325 of them–residential buildings, schools and hospitals, energy supply and industrial facilities). It’s impossible to assess the exact amount of the losses. Especially given the provisioning of internally displaced persons from Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

I wonder how the little leaders of the DNR and LNR [Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics] are going to rebuild the Donbas, slaughtered by them, since they are so vigorously rushing to annex it from Ukraine? Do they count on Putin rebuilding everything for them? But Putin, poor fellow, still cannot digest Crimea–the devil knows what’s going on over there. Plus the huge losses of the Russian economy due to sanctions (the [Russian] Ruble fell to a new record low today). What type of Russian aid are [they] talking about?

Moscow’s plan is clear: the more impoverished Donbas is, the easier it is [for them] to govern it for a penny. But the residents of Donbas themselves, who are living in the occupied territories (by the way, just as do the little local insurgents) need to understand what a ghetto the Kremlin has in mind for them.

The good news:

1. President P. Poroshenko explained today that the so-called “special temporary regime” of the local government operation in Donbas will not threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

To be honest with you, I don’t really understand how the terrorists, who clearly stated that they don’t see themselves as part of Ukraine, can support this plan. I would hope that those on Bankova Street [Presidential Administration] know more [about this], since they believe in the reality of this plan.

2. The Advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs Anton Geraschenko said–Ukraine will not give over the roofer Mustang Wanted (Pavlo Ushevets) to Russia, whom Moscow had placed on the international wanted list. [Editor’s note: roofing is the term for a kind of travel, which consists in walking on the roofs of a city’s skyscrapers].

Mustang’s mischieveous and patriotic feat is known to everyone–obviously Putin still sees the star on the Moscow high-rise painted by Mustang in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and Ukraine’s flag hoisted on top of it, in [his] nightmares. In that most terrible dream, when he suddenly wakes up wearing an oseledets [traditional Cossack hairstyle] and the Ukrainian traditional pants [known as] sharovary.

It is not entirely clear here. If Russia is not at war with Ukraine and is a peaceful state overall (as Moscow incessantly argues), then why would the roofer’s act/performance enrage the Kremlin so much that it put him on the international wanted list? Has someone been hurt by the roofer’s act? Was some property destroyed? Or have Ukrainian symbols been officially banned in Russia? This hysterical Kremlin looks funny.

In turn, the position of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine is absolutely adequate. Mustang is a citizen of Ukraine, and [Ukraine’s] sacred duty is to protect her patriot. So let them have the donut hole, not Mustang.

Image source: Mustang Wanted Fb

3. Russian oil companies “Rosneft,” “Transneft,” and “Gazprom Neft” ended up on the list of the new restrictive EU measures against Russia. The United States joined in: five Russian energy companies, including Gazprom, Lukoil, and Rosneft got hit with the sanctions.

Uncle Sam’s hand gently rubbed the udders of Putin’s sacred cow. Now, her milk yield will surely fall.

By the way, Putin was outraged when he found out that the leader of the DNR, Zaharchenko, also made it to the EU’s sanctions list. Like, why would you do this to a great guy?

I understand that Putin hoped Zaharchenko, besides being the “prime minister,” would also moonlight as a transporter and haul Norwegian salmon for him from Europe. That fell through. What a shame.

4. And from the next level of Russian barbarism… The State Duma of the Russian Federation hankered after ecologists to assess the possible damage from the construction of the separation of trenches, walls and other structures on the border between Russia and Ukraine. Like, Ukraine’s plans could cause significant damage to the flora and fauna of the five Russian regions, the wall will be built alongside of.

Well, [I have] one word ] for them: monsters. They flooded the Ukrainian land with the blood of Ukrainian boys, destroyed the infrastructure of the whole Ukrainian region with their “Grads,” wiped out hospitals, schools, and entire communities from the face of the earth. And when Ukraine set a goal to fence itself off from this pack of rabid dogs, they began to snuffle about the threat to Russian birches and lindens.

They are probably worried that as a result of the “retaliatory sanctions” by Russia on clothing imports from Europe, they will have nothing to weave their lapti [bast shoes] from.

Screen Shot 2014-09-12 at 5.33.37 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

 

Posted in Dmitry Tymchuk, English, English News, South&Eastern Ukraine, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Taras Polataiko: “War. 11 Portraits” – OLEH’s STORY

Taras Polataiko, Ukrainian Canadian artist, Assistant Professor, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
09.12.2014
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Taras Polataiko’s project War. 11 Portraits is at the National Art Museum of Ukraine [NAMU] as a charity fundraising initiative to help wounded soldiers and museums who have suffered or been damaged within the zone of the Ukrainian ATO (Anti-Terrorism Operation); it is on until September 21, 2014.

From the artist’s talks with patients in the surgical department of Kyiv’s Central Military Clinical Hospital, who came there from the front with serious injuries, ​​11 photo-portraits emerged with audio recorded stories of the people who have been in the inferno of war. Voices of Ukraine has been translating these audio stories to print, our translation (together with all the portraits in the show) is here: VASYL’s STORY.

This is OLEH’s STORY:

Oleh, Donbas Battalion, “The guys carried me, wounded, under heavy fire for about 3 miles.” VIDEO (in Ukrainian). National Art Museum of Ukraine (audio portrait, transcribed below):

Oleh: My name’s Oleh, call sign Dnepr. I’m from the Donbas Battalion.

Taras Polataiko: How did you get into the ATO?

Oleh: I wanted to get there as early as possible. I was at Maidan, myself. The guys – there were ten more people from Kalush – asked me not to leave until the [Presidential] elections were over. We all felt there was a threat that something could happen [to disrupt the vote]. Once the elections were over, we decided to go.

People came to Maidan looking for volunteers to join the Donbas Battalion. They told us – if anyone wants to go and fight, come here on Monday at nine in the morning. I didn’t really care which battalion I was with – I just wanted to be in the ATO and fight separatists. I ended up in the Donbas battalion, and I’ve got no regrets about that. We have some great guys, and good commanders, too.

Was that your first time at war? What were your first impressions?

Yes, that was my first time. I took it pretty well. Soon after we got to Artemivsk, there was an attack, the very same night. It was a bit scary at first, but then we got used to it all. We didn’t even see who was shooting, just heard the direction it was coming from.

How long does it take to get used to that sort of thing?

For some, one day is all it takes. We always had to be at the ready. We were always going on different missions – taking back different sites from separatists, like factories and car parks. Soon, you come to realize that either you kill them, or they kill you. No third option. We knew that separatists don’t spare anyone, and it’s best not to get captured by them, because they’d rip you to shreds first, and then kill you anyway. So there’s no point in being taken alive.

Did your first impression of the war change you?

Maybe a little. I want to go back. I can’t do it yet, but I really want to go back to my guys. They’re amazing. After I was wounded, they carried me for almost three kilometers, under heavy fire. I don’t know how we even made it. There were maybe eight of them, being constantly fired at. They would set me down on the road, cover me up, return fire… They were incredible. I’m so grateful to them.

If I survive and get better, I must do more. My leg won’t let me do that yet, it’s pretty heavily wounded. I have three gunshot wounds, one 12.7 caliber and two 5.45. There’s about 8 cm of bone missing in my hip, and the bullets caused two serious fractures. The doctors are saying I’m going to be fine, but I’m healing slowly. I’m doing my best, though, I keep fighting. I want to get back on my feet as soon as possible, and live a full life. And I want to go back to my battalion.

Do you have any family?

Both parents and a brother. I also have a girlfriend, and a child, she’s eight years old. I was married once, but we’re separated now. My daughter doesn’t know what happened to me. Everyone else knows, but I’m not ready to tell her yet. She thinks I’m doing some work somewhere… I’ll tell her when the time is right.

Ok, thank you. Heroyam Slava! [Glory to the Heroes!]

RELATED:

National Art Museum of Ukraine, Exhibition view.

Lions never abandon their pride / Lion’s Help, fundraising project Facebook page.

Link to next stories: DENIS, SERHIY, ROMAN, MAKSYM, DIMA, SASHA’s stories

 

Posted in "Voices" in English, Art, English, Eyewitness stories, Help for ukrainian army, Pictures, South&Eastern Ukraine, Video, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments