Not far from Dzerzhinsk, the warriors of 17th mechanized batallion defend Ukrainian positions not a first week on the place with romantic name “Tsvetochek” (The Flower).

The guys claim that their fortifications and dugouts is strong enough to carry the attack of enemy infantry fighting vehicles and mortars. Their shells daily hit on the position. In spite of this they have something to defend. The soldier with callsign “Student” told us how battles are happening.

“In general, they began their activity at night, when darkness come. The less groups of insurgents come closer to Ukrainian positions with machine guns. Predominantly all of this is followed by huge artillery strikes. They are very rich last time. We’re always ready to fight back. We didn’t have the “two-hundreds” (died — ed.) or “three-hundreds” (wounded — ed.)” — the “Student” is telling.

Mode of life has been tuned here. The dinner is preparing between sectioned by the splinters trees. A lot of necessary improvised was made independently from the “surprises” of terrorists. There is the kevlar helmets, empty shells and shot shanks from antitank grenade easel #9.

The quadrupeds comrades are living near with military. The soldiers are joking that pets are serving on the front line the same as they are.

There is the place to pray in the tents and dugouts. The walls are plastered with children’s pictures.

Men claim that it helps them to carry on and encourage that the wishes of the children, written on the paper, will become true and they will “come back” and the “peace will be”.

Solomia Koshtura for informator.lg.ua