Photo exhibition of Andrey Dubchak, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty correspondent.
The exhibition takes place within the framework of the art project “Life on nuli” (front positions) (organized by Inna Ermakova).
The photo project presents photographs with stories on the ” nuli ” (front positions) of the 36th separate brigade of the Marine Corps in Shirokine and Vodyane located on the coast Azov; “nuli ” of the 10th separate mountain-assault brigade (“Edelweiss“), near Popasnoy (Lugansk region); one combat day of the 24th OMBr (separate vehicle brigade), named after King Danylo, in the village of Yuzhnoye, which is near Gorlivka; and other photo stories of the front lines in this “last” 2018 year. In total, 60 artworks of 40×60 are represented at the exhibition.
The main idea of the project: to expose, through the people’s emotions, what the war really is. The focus is on ordinary soldiers, their lives, routine and battles.
About the author: Andriy Dubchak – correspondent and photojournalist of Radio Liberty since 2003.
Born and raised in the city of Kalinovka, Vinnitsa region. Graduated from the ВДСГІ, ФІОТ, “Journalism of the Digital Future” of the Mohyla School of Journalism.
The first streamer of EuroMaidan, filmed and streamed many events of the Revolution of Dignity, including the tragic days of 18th, 19th, 20th February 2014.
Winner of the European Lovie Awards competition in the “Best Internet Video 2014” nomination for the video from a «fir-tree»: https://goo.gl/H32dak
Finalist of the European Digital Media Award 2019 in category “engagement”.
Covered events during the annexation of the Crimea. Currently, the bulk of the creative work is aimed at highlighting the fighting in the East of Ukraine.
I am glad to see all interested and involved people here!
Radio Svoboda correspondent Andriy Dubchak is on the way between the front positions of the 10th OMBR (separate mechanized brigade), Edelweiss, near Popasnaya, December 2017
When the heat is broken off by fight: the photo coverage from a front line near Horlivka
At the beginning of May 2018, Ukrainian military of 24th OMBP entered and entrenched themselves in the village Pivdenne (former name – Leninske, more well known as Chigiri). It is very near Gorlivka, which is controlled by Pro-Russian militants. Official interpretation of this maneuver is improvement of tactical position of ZSU(Ukrainian Armed Forces) and block the militants entering the village. Locals confessed that before the troops entered the village, there were no fights in the village itself, all shells flew above their heads, and between the fighting positions. At the moment of our visit to Chigiri, 17 houses burned out, people were evacuated, but on the outskirts of the village trench fights lasted persistently. All pictures taken on 16th and 17th in June, 2018.
These are ZSU military positions, near Toreck. Soldiers are preparing themselves for a night expedition to Pivdenne. It was dangerous to go there in broad daylight because the road to the village was completely shot through by large-caliber machine guns. We (correspondents) went together with the column. On the road to the village, we passed a few burning out houses. June 16, 2018 At the moment of our visit to Pivdenne, 18 houses were burned down completely (the total average number of houses was 40). Locals from the neighboring Toreck would come to salvage some things and to check out which houses remained intact. In the photo is Oleksandr, whose house burned to the ground – he is trying to salvage some metal leftovers, which he plans to transport by his motorcycle and sell the metal for scrap. He complained that the state, at that moment, does not help at all.
Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018 We visit one of the military positions. Soldiers treat us to coffee. Mainly middle-aged warriors held these defensive positions. In the photo is a warrior soldier named “Mamay.” He is in the war since March 2014. The man is 59 years old. He performed many functions: physician, field engineer, cook, fighter.
Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018A warrior, soldier named “Prince,” during a conversation with «Borisovich» at one of the observation points on the outskirts of the village. The situation was tense; there could be gunfire any second; and periodically, during our «walk» in the village, assault rifle and machine gun bursts could be heard from the outskirts of the village; explosions were heard rarer. Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018 At the time of midday, there were some shots fired from the direction of Gorlivka. The warriors bustled about. “Relay by radio that we were shot at by a sniper,” ‘Beard’ (on the picture) reported. He took on the role of commander on one of the positions. The warriors staffed their positions and a firefight commenced.
Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018 Ukrainian soldiers use DSHK (large-caliber machine gun) to “probe” enemy in order to reveal his gun emplacements. After a machine gun burst, a 55-years-old warrior soldier named «Svarschik» from Dnepr observes enemy gun emplacements. After the firefight, he says, “I am a pipe welder. I could have been welding a pipe in Norway, but I am here.”
Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018 The enemy began to shoot back from infantry weapons. A Kalashnikov’s machine gun joins DSHK in the firefight. Bullets buzz and squeal above our position. The warriors strive to spare the rounds, but the rate of fire grows and machinegun belts are replaced (in the photo).
Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018 A sniper supports and gives machine guns cover from his SVD (sniper rifle of Dragunova). However, hostile bullets began to beat out earth almost near him. The enemy sighted his position. He could not shoot from that position any more – it was too dangerous.
Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018 A gob pile holds gun emplacements of militants controlled by Russia. That is where the positional firefight happened. Above these fortifications, there is a banner with brand mark of so-called “DNR” republic. To the left in the photo – smoke blazing from burning houses in Pivdenne (The photo was taken as we were leaving the settlement).
Settlement Pivdenne, near Gorlivka on June, 17th, 2018 After a little while, the firefight subsides. We are advised to leave the village; the warriors explain that, after a firefight, the enemy can wait to open fire in the most unexpected moment, so our guided “trip” to the village is over. In the company of several soldiers, we leave the village under the cover of the smoke generated by the burning buildings and the smokescreen set up by our soldiers. On the road shot through by enemy machine guns, we alternate walking with running. In the photo – the soldiers are waiting for us and watching the enemy in a monocle.
Village Pivdenne, near Horlivka, June 17, 2018.
Mountain Edelweiss in the Donbass
Within a few days, Radio Liberty correspondents visited many of the frontline positions under Popasna, which were under the control of a separate mountain-assault brigade. Given the considerable number and versatility of the footage, it was decided to present the story of the brigade in three separate but related publications: • Mountain Edelweiss in the Donbass. Part One: Slagheap • Mountain Edelweiss in the Donbass. Part Two: The underground of the frontline • Mountain Edelweiss in the Donbass. Part Three: In battle
Trench lines of Ukrainian military positions, near Popasna. Where possible, such trench lines connect forward PS (platoon strongpoints)
District of Popasnoy, December 2017.Warrior soldier named “Fox” is the commander of this strongpoint. At home, his wife and two little children wait for him. “Why is he a Fox?” For he fights well and as cunning as a fox, “are the words of one of his warriors.
District of Popasnoy, December 2017 Night at “observer.” In total darkness of a dugout, Mykhajlo smokes, while on watch on his frontline position. Experienced “Didick” is to the right of him. Night turns out to be quiet. We are having a conversation. Repeatedly, in total darkness, either Mykhajlo or “Didick” stands up and look out through a gun-slot. A night vision scope helps to monitor the situation. “We regularly experience “nightmares”: 12,7 millimeters, sometimes 14,5 and 7,62 all the time. There were cases, when 5,45 mm bullets flayed in through the gun-slot,” says Didick, fidgeting with a night vision scope. ‘When I come home, the question that strikes me most – “When will the war end?” How do I know? We do everything what depends from us. However, there is one thing that I will never get used to – when you have to inform relatives that their son, or husband, or other family member is no more. When that mobile rings and you have to answer, and you can hear a female voice saying, “Hello! Hello! Sashku, Sashku, how you? Hello! Why are you silent?” Moreover, you stand there, not knowing with what to begin. You talk some nonsense, trying to express your apologies and sympathies. In such moments, my voice trembled, with hands and feet wobbly. There would be silence on the other end. Then you would hear weeping and hysterics. That was the hardest thing,” recalls Mykhajlo. Sometime later, there is a flare in total darkness. Sound follows in a few seconds. It is an “exit.” Guys monitor the situation. Enemy fired AT mounted grenade launcher at positions of an adjacent friendly brigade. District of Popasnoy, December 2017
Video: https://goo.gl/8Y4ft1After a four-hour watch, we return to a “sleeping dugout” that contains 10 beds. The warriors rest here between duty calls. Standard dugout accommodates from 6 to 10 fighters. There are, of course, smaller. According to the rules, there are two entrance/exits. It happens that a dugout has several rooms(It depends on how big a hole was dug and how much construction materials were available). We even saw «shelters-gyms. »
District of Popasnoy, December 2017A puppy is at the same position. A mirror and inverted bottles is a summer washstand. Pet animals are always on positions. Some have more of them, other – less. Some positions are “feline”, some “canine.” Here, pet animals fulfil several functions: original anti- stress, reliable guard, and in the case of cats – a cure for rodents.
District of Popasnoy, December 2017 Residents of the house located in the “gray zone,” near the city of Zolote, Luhansk region. On that day, we took pictures of how the military evacuated a body of an unknown man about the age of 40 years old, who recently struck a mine-stretch near this building and died as a result of the explosion. District of Popasnoy, December 2017 A video about these people and about the evacuation of the deceased: https://goo.gl/vvKCuLThe view on the gob piles, held by the Russian hybrid forces, from the position of the Ukrainian military, near the city of Zolote, which is in Lugansk region. One of the gob piles is located at a distance of 1.5 km, the other is 3 km away. The territory between the gob piles is a “gray zone”. Militants’ sniper and reconnaissance groups come there.
District of Popasnoy, December 2017Alexander, a fighter from Kherson, reloads his assault rifle dispenser magazine on a position reinforced with refuse stone bags, on the gob pile near a town Zolote.
– Do you want to go home?
Sasha smiles:
– I feel sad at home. In addition, here are our boys. It’s OK.
The guy is 20 years old. In a conversation, he often uses the phrase “It’s OK.”
District of Popasnoy, December 2017 Alexander is 28 years old. Originally, from Chernigov region, he speaks calmly, confidently, logically. He is in the war since 2014, started fighting with the first wave of mobilization. Three months later, he was discharged for some reason. In 2015, he was called up for military service again with the sixth wave of mobilization. He served 15 months mobilization duty, and then remained for a half-year contract. After that he returned home for six months, could not stand it and signed the contract. In a matter of a split second after this photo shot, we were shot at by an enemy sniper. (Video of this moment: https://goo.gl/pBeMHU) It was a narrow escape, but a week later, a sniper tapped the boy in the head. 7.62 bullet came under the helmet – the brain was injured. Now, he is slowly recovers and undergoes a long rehab in Lviv.
District of Popasnoy, December 2017Supper during a fight. Ukrainian soldiers dine in a dugout on the front, near Popanskaya, while other fighters suppress the enemy’s fire. The enemy, in some way, learned about our arrival to the position (it was found out from the radio interception). That night, we were shot at three times from small arms. District of Popasnoy, December 2017 Read and watch: https://goo.gl/SeMPXbA fighter smiles, who came in for a moment to the dugout during a night battle, near Popasnaya, December 2017.A collection that “arrives” to the land around the dugout of Ukrainian soldiers. Roughly, once per hour, explosions on the surface could be heard in the dugout. These militants shot at the top of the trees with explosive bullets in the wood line around the dugouts. The fire was unfocused, for the effect of psychological pressure on our fighters.
District of Popasnoy, December 2017A fighter in the line of trenches at the front, near Popanskaya, December 2017.Enemy sniper “killed” a scarecrow on the front, near Popasne. Most likely, the enemy sniper knew that it was scarecrow, but shot anyway, as to say – “I see everything.”
District of Popasnoy, December 2017A fighter is drinking tea in the dugout-observer, near Popasnaya, December 2017.
He tells about the routine and war actions of marines of 36 ISBM (separate marine brigade) in Shirokine. All photos of the cycle were made in March 2018.
“Ukrainian Dunkirk.” A panoramic view of the resort lifts, which stand on the shores of Azov Sea. The coast is completely mined and fortified with an anti- landing barrier in the case of enemy landing from the sea. The city on the horizon is Novoazovsk. There is an enemy there.
Shirokine March 2018Marines carry food to the front positions, near Shirokine. War is not only shots and explosions. The war is also cabbage, beet, condensed milk, a dirty uniform and socks, dreams of a bath, cucumbers, meat, and batteries. The war is 1.5 liters of water a day, timber, shovels, digging trenches, and digging again, round-the-clock digging. War is a constant manhandling of something, somehow, somewhere. The war is soaked boots, amplifiers for Wi-Fi, bread, fuel, a wrench for 15, which is not present, powder charges, which for some reason on a different position, overdue parcel at the ” Noviy Poshty “, again fuel, a pot too little for borsch to feed all, firewood, again firewood, and again firewood. War is primarily logistics. Moreover, the trench war is at least 90% logistics. In the photo: the guys of the marines carry potatoes and something else edible (in the box) to the advanced combat positions in the fields, near Shirokine, March 2018.“The brass has arrived”. Squadron commander, Victor Sikoza, company commander, Alexander, press officer ,Alexander Bessmertnya, and brigade commander, Dmitry Deliatitsky, are going to examine how they strengthened the recently occupied “nuli” position on the forefront in Shirokine.
Read: Brigade commander of Marines, Dmytro Deliatiatsky: “We will definitely return to our home, Crimea” – https://goo.gl/TsSs4j
Shirokine, March 2018The school building was destroyed by artillery in Shirokine, March 2018.Oleksandra Bessmertnaya, press officer, of the 36th ОМБР of the Marine Corps of Ukraine on the frontline in Shirokine, March 2018.Two days in a row, army trucks KrAZ supplied our ROP (the company’s defense position) with huge logs of trees to make firewood. The boys cut them with chainsaws to smaller pieces, and then moved them by ” Humvees ” and ” Shishihas”(Soviet-made cross country truck) to the fields on the front line, supply points where everything is brought in. It is on positions firewood is pricked and made for heating. For cooking, as a rule, soldiers themselves buy gas cylinders. It is easier and quicker to cook on gas; moreover, smoke does not reveal the dwelling place to the enemy.
Shirokine, March 2018.Driver, Vasily, and sailor, Dmitry, rest after harvesting firewood.
Shirokine, March 2018.On his “Shishiha,”Driver, Vitaliy, (23 years old, native of Cherkassy region) delivered firewood to one of the front positions. In Shirokine, it was his second rotation. The front driver is a dangerous military profession, since transport is one of the main targets of gunfire, and the enemy shoots through the entrances to the front positions from all types of weapons. The main advice from Vitaly was – never panic!
Shirokine, March 2018.A marine drinks coffee and smokes in a kitchen-dugout, near Shirokine. Local “club” – a kitchen, some people are always there, the place you can eat at(they cook all the time), drink coffee with a cigar (almost everyone smokes), talk. Usually there is good Wi-Fi. Shirokine, March 2018. (I must die near this kitchen. Thanks to God the enemy sniper hend some shaking at the moment of shooting).“May 9th, thank your grandfather for the victory!” – an inscription made by pro-Russian militants in Shirokine, before Ukrainian marines drove them out from the village in 2016. Currently, the whole of Shirokine is under control of the Ukrainian Army. Enemy positions are several hundred meters away from the village.
Shirokine, March 2018.At one of the front positions, I speak with “Archie”, a 20-year-old boy from the region of Nikolayev. He tells us that the militants often try to approach our positions through wood lines at night; our warriors have to respond with fire at regular intervals. Shirokine, March 2018. Video: https://goo.gl/iVAXZB“Look out, mines! Do not come near! I will blow you up and curse you! «Many homes are still mined (Pro-Russian militants mined them during retreat).Destruction caused by an “incoming”, probably a 152-millimeter projectile, in a ship-house on the Azov coast in Shirokine, March 2018.A combat medic, “Viktorovna,” is playing with Fly the puppy, before traveling to a concert in Mariupol. Soldiers prepare food themselves. Since the boys are mostly young, they often eat “what is available”, “not bothering” themselves with cooking. Probably, that is why a single woman here, the combat medic of the company, “Victorovna”, who always cooks a lot of very tasty foodstuff, has guests in the house all the time, especially in the kitchen … 🙂
In all the shelters and basements, many animals (cats, dogs) live with fighters. As a rule, if there are dogs – there are no cats. And vice versa.
Shirokine, March 2018.2nd Shevchenko Street, A.G. Shevchenko lived here. In the photo – the gates are broken up with fragments in the yard in the center of the village. It was a local tradition to specify the name of an owner next to the address. Most of the houses in Shirokine are destroyed to the condition “easier to build a new one”. Wikipedia says that, before the war, 1,180 people lived in the village. Now, the village in in itself is no more. Civilians do not live here. There is not a single survived house, not a single settlement filled with iron and mines.
Shirokine, March 2018.
Marine Infantry in Vodyane: fights, ruins, snipers
It tells about the routine and war of marines of the 36th in Shirokino and Vodiane. All photos of the cycle were made in March 2018.
Eduard. Eduard Yuriyevich Fedorov is a sailor of the Marine Corps of Ukraine. This photo I made in March, when he accompanied me from the front position to downtown Vodyane. “Give me a couple of photos. As mementos”. On the 27th of June, a hostile bullet hit him. For five days, doctors fought for his life, but … failed. On the 2nd of July, his heart stopped. The soldier has a pregnant wife, with whom he married in late April. On September 17th, a daughter was born to him, who will know her father only in the photos …
I knew him a couple of hours. I will remember him my whole life. May he rest in peace.
Photo – Vodyane, March 2018.Mounted on the armor of BMP-2 navigating Vodyane
Since the beginning of the conflict, the village was mostly under the control of militants of Russian hybrid forces, although, according to the Minsk agreements, Vodyane ought to be controlled by Ukrainian side. Only in early 2017, militants were completely expelled. All valuables were looted then, and now most of the “insides” of buildings are just heaps of burnt debris.
The village was often hit by artillery of various calibers and “Hradamy”(missile artillery). Even now, sometimes, somewhere “Stodvadtsyatka” (120-millimeter mine) can arrive.
Most of the front positions of the marines are located a few hundred meters away from the village. All needed is brought down – firewood, water, food, ammunition. The enemy, as a rule, can shoot through the roads here. Where possible armored vehicles deliver goods, where not – everything has to be brought by hand.
Video: https://goo.gl/naFV2EOfficers, Bogdan and Igor, think what to do with a jeep that was stuck on the way to Vodyane. Militants shoot through asphalted roads and the only way to the village is a dirt track.
Shirokine, March 2018Destruction caused by an “incoming”, probably a 152-millimeter projectile, in a house, Vodiane village, March 2018.Marines converse in one of the basements in Vodyane. In the background, there is a portion of the US flag can be seen, donated by the American Marines to the Ukrainian ones, during joint exercises. The photo was taken in March, during our next visit in June, this house was gone. The enemy broke it by his mortars. Fortunately, the first mine that fell next to the house gave time for everyone to jump into the basement.
Vodyane, March 2018.In Vodyane, Spring of 2018, seven families were permanently residing (10 people). They farmed the land, raised livestock – goats (milk that they sold or changed for food from soldiers), pigs and poultry. Only a small amount of assistance was received from international humanitarian organizations. There was no separate assistance from the Ukrainian state.
One of them is baba “Zoya” (military called the woman that way). The husband and son of the woman died, she lived alone. After the fighting began, other her relatives – daughter – and the four grandchildren left for Russia.“Hello from Vodyane”. Baba Zoe with her cat Timka. The cat was wounded and ill, the woman nursed it, as she could.
Vodyane, March 2018.Chaplain, Andrei Zelinsky, (right) is talking with a Marine, Paul, who accompanied us to the forefront positions, near Vodyane. It was interesting to listen to his sermons, or rather motivational advice. It was the stories and myths of the ancient Greeks, which he imposed on the realities of the present war. Video of one of his sermons on “nuli” and reading: https://goo.gl/ZbwglX
Facebook of the reverend father, Andrew: https://www.facebook.com/andriy.zelinskyyMarina rest after quick movement to the top front line position, Vodiane, March 2018.A warrior of the marines, Andrew, with a “gift” for militants on the front, near Mariupol. In his hands – a charge for a “boot”, (SPG – tripod-mounted man-portable antitank gun). This can hit both armor and fortifications (depending on the warhead). Maximum range is 4500 m, the point-blank range is 800 m, the target range is 1300 m.
Vodyane, March 2018.A company’s technician with a call name “YU” on BMP-2 during delivery of “BC”(ammunition load) and food to the front.
Vodyane, March 2018.A sailor of Marines with a call name “Rambo,” during a snack at the front, near Vodyane. The heat in June was terrible.
Vodyane, March 2018A sailor of Marines with a call name “Malezhik” under the firing port of a pillbox, front position “nuli”. The distance to the enemy was just over 200 meters. Marines’ infantry distinguishes the younger age and motivation of its soldiers from other military units. To the usual question “Why here?” I heard in response: “I wanted to”, “Because the Marines are the best”, “I just wanted to be a marine”. Although, of course, there are senior soldiers, and there is different motivation. At the end of summer 2018, “Malezhik” was wounded by a grenade from a hostile AGS, was treated in the Kiev military hospital, now he is back in line.
Vodyane, March 2018Section commander, “Yarik,” is in the newly built gun nest on the front in the fields, near Vodyane.
Vodyane, June 2018.Sailor of the Marine Corps, Olenka, behind the apparatus of the Soviet “Polovka”. In the era of 4g, Motorola radio sets and super-encrypted connections, the old wired communication remains one of the safest and most reliable means of communication on combat positions.
Vodyane, March 2018The repair of a barrel of machine gun PKT. During shooting, a jammed cartridge tore the barrel very badly. Working half a day, the boys tried extract it from there. In the evening, the machine gun had already worked and it is in the photo, while firing on the enemy.
Vodyane, June 2018.Usually, fighting starts in the evening. On that day, at first, the enemy used small arms to fire on a neighborhood position and then shifted the fire on ours. Marines responded “sharply” – working with small arms and machine guns, trying to suppress enemy fire from gathering momentum. The enemy died down. In the dark, the combat thickens and involves most positions of the defensive line. The enemy opens fire with machine guns, grenade launchers and SPG(coaxial grenade launcher). In the air above my head, bullets are whistling, tracer bullets fly by, explosions could be heard. The marines respond in kind and immediately. Several of their grenades set on fire one of the positions of militants in a wooded area, opposite us. The position burns for a long period, but dimly and with a loud hiss (probably, TNT burns down in antitank mines emplaced around their positions).
In the photo – the sailor Rostislav shoots from the machine gun PKT on the enemy.
Vodyane, June 2018.
