LRT journalists met volunteers of the Right Sector that remained untamed even after the Ukrainian Government incorporated into army structures other volunteer battalions, such as Azov or Donbas that played a crucial role in stopping Russian separatists advance three years ago.
Shotlist
Kamyanka in Doneck region, Ukraine
Various shots from last week
Sound bite (Russian)
YULIA SIDOROVA, Ukrainian volunteer soldier:
Everyone has a different motivation. Those who fight also have a different motivation. I happened to meet people, also on our side, who said that I came here, because I want to kill. However, these are rare cases. People usually come, because they want to defend their country, its integrity, and their motivation is pure.
Sound bite (Russian)
YULIA SIDOROVA, Ukrainian volunteer soldier:
If a real and active war goes on, then there is at least some hope to achieve some kind of result, and all victims are not in vain. But when everything goes like here, when it seems there is no war, no one talks about victory and no one does anything about it. However, people are still being killed. In this way war can go on for another ten or fifteen years. I don’t think that there would be fewer victims, after all, when comparing to decently planned attacks aimed at reclaiming our lost territories. That is how I see it.
Sound bite (Russian)
SERGEI YUDIN, Ukrainian volunteer soldier:
Authorities do not help volunteer battalions. They think we are dangerous, because if we come back from the front, we will demand justice.
Sound bite (Russian)
NADIYA SAVCHENKO, Ukrainian MP, former Ukrainian air force pilot who had been imprisoned in Russia for two years:
First of all it attracts people with guns, people who have patriotic feelings, and then their feelings against government are directed towards the enemy. When it all ends, the situation might get out of control. However, they think it will not happen soon, they think war will continue during this or even next term. And it is OK with them.
Sound bite (Russian)
SERGEI YUDIN, Ukrainian volunteer soldier:
This is a standard trench of the ongoing Ukrainian war, which in my opinion is not so different from that of the World War One. Level of the Ukrainian soldiers’ protection is very low if compared to NATO standards.
Sound bite (Russian)
SERGEI YUDIN, volunteer Ukrainian soldier:
