Diana Makarova's FUND.
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lenta_uaCHAPTER 1
THE UNKNOWN FRONTLINE
We pack our car to the limit and drive through the frontline at least once in a fortnight. This fact let us firmly state that we know the situation right there, we know who occupies certain positions, and we know their real needs.
The situation across the front is changing rapidly even when a timely ceasefire is officially declared. Thus, if someone says that he knows the front because he visited some positions “only three months ago,” don’t trust “the expert.” All he used to know is a distant past.
Demobilized militaries seem to be a reliable source of information about the frontline, don’t they? But militaries only share details they see fit. Probably, something about their positions. However, they usually know nothing particular about the entire sector, and doubtfully have any idea about the businesses of, for example, the National Guard if they belong to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Some say, guys from the headquarters must have up-to-date information about the frontline. Oh, yes they have. Just don’t be surprised if some high-ranking officer’s story would sound exclusively positive and a bit artificial. I mean,for example, the reports from Ukrainian General Staff or the Ministry of Defence which are quite alike.
As for my part, I prefer to trust my own eyes and ears. That’s why when I hear something like “why would the head of a charity fund visit the front personally?”, I just smile.
I am not an exception. I could’ve mentioned a lot of leaders of Ukrainian volunteer organizations who are spending much time at the front.
We receive many calls from soldiers, mothers, and other unindifferent people. Their requests may contain numerous items, and every item is crucial. Meanwhile, our possibilities are very limited. So, we, in the FUND, prefer to meet our soldiers personally. We get to know each other, assess the changing needs, and based on our own experience set the priorities of the foundation.
...Three weeks have passed since I’ve been there for the last time. So, we’ll have seven days to find out what has changed during this period and what the current needs are.
CHAPTER 2
VOLUNTEERS
Very few of us remain frontline volunteers. In 2014, when everything has just begun, there were many of us, and everyone had their mission and specialization.
Military volunteers supplied our soldiers with equipment, uniform, combat boots, optics, scopes, electronics, in other words, with various stuff for military uses.
We rarely brought any food, unless we planned to plough through encirclement. Usually, we just had no place in our car. We also ignored socks, cakes, or else.
We tried to avoid “second-hand” civil shops and bought more expensive military clothes out of respect for the uniform and army fashion.
Medical volunteers supplied hospitals and did their best in tactical medicine.
Food-supplying volunteers had a bigger public support and, generally, received enough of food packages from supermarkets, village and city communes, volunteering cooking formations and multiple non-profit organizations.
Civil volunteers helped in relocation and evacuation of civilians, supported orphans, collected food packages for residents of abandoned villages, etc.
Sometimes we, military volunteers, had to take care of the same things. We’ve also learned how to pack food and how to evacuate civilians under gunfire.
Entertaining volunteers like no other could boost morale and raise spirits of Ukrainian defenders. Singing, dancing, and storytelling are essential in showing how we care and appreciate what our soldiers do. That’s why we grab a guitar at times and make our performance.
The last ones, check-in volunteers, were rarely observed at forward positions and never at flashpoints or near mousetraps. They hardly ever did anything worthy. During the ceasefire, they were the first to go to the front and make lovely photos with militaries.
Now, volunteering is not that popular, and very few still visit the front. However, those who remained have a will to carry on and a solid understanding of their mission. Most of them are military volunteers.
There is also a bunch of medical volunteers left, who are mostly busy with showing how to use the modern first aid kits. While a good deal of militarists are still forced to use useless legacy kits produced in the Soviet Union.
Very few volunteers now help civilians. Their responsibilities are mostly undertaken by the private organization of the well-known oligarch of Donetsk origin. Besides, many civilians became high-fed and arrogant.
Army-oriented food volunteers also have little to do now. Fortunately, state food supplying system is growing better. Though, sometimes exceptions happen, and food volunteers go back to their job.
There's still a lot of check-in volunteers.
You ask, why the number of volunteers has reduced dramatically?
First, the Army supply system has improved. It is far from perfect, but Ukrainian soldiers, at least, aren’t starving and have something to put on.
Second, the motivation of volunteers is weaker while their work seems more exhausting than it used to at the beginning of the war. Our mission was far more dangerous, and our job felt more like a heroic deed. It was extremely motivating, unlike the routine of today.
Watching like soldiers perform some senseless or stupidly dangerous orders is not motivating. For, what’s the use of whitening curbs at the frontline or marching back and forth right along the forward positions?
It seems now and again that Ukrainian high officers try to command any nonsense just to keep their subordinates busy.
Here’s the story: another high-ranking officer comes to a front position and commands to replace metal anti-tank hedgehogs with wooden ones. Pure nonsense. Yet, the officer argues that they are easier to carry out… “and probably effective against wooden tanks,” joke soldiers.
CHAPTER 3
THE 6TH ROUND OF MOBILIZATION
Today, the most of our defenders are rookies of the 5th and 6th mobilization rounds. A few of them know what a real military conflict is, except a bunch of those who are constantly under fire or those who somehow obtained such an experience.These guys do not feel danger and become heedless.
Here is an example. We were driving to the checkpoint near N., which is only a kilometer away from the forward positions. It is guarded by a soldier talking on the phone.
We stopped because that is an obligatory requirement at checkpoints. The soldier paid little attention to us and waved his hand, showing we can drive away. So, we passed.
As we needed to ask for directions, I stopped the car near the checkpoint booth to ask for help. The soldier who let us pass still stood talking ten meters away.
The entrance to the booth was covered only with a blanket. I looked in. I know, there must’ve been at least two guardians at the checkpoint for the safety’s sake. Benches, table, small stove, weapon and no one inside.
We moved on. A little further we saw another guardian. He went slowly, carrying a bag in his hand. Probably, he left his position just to go to the local store. That’s what I call reckless. Basically, anyone could’ve passed through the checkpoint, come into their booth and taken whatever they wanted.
The second example.
Ukrainian militaries received an order to go to a populated area unarmed. The city they are visiting is two hundred meters away from the frontier, where the danger of attack is permanent. But they still go there without any weapon because they have the order. Those who go armless are mostly soldiers of the 5th and 6th round of mobilization. Experienced militaries prefer to keep the weapon despite the order for consequences might be severe.
CHAPTER 4
DIGITAL CAMO AND “TALAN” BOOTS
Driving along the frontline, we were surprised to see that many were wearing cold digital camo instead of winter uniform from volunteers. Where are fur jackets that volunteers sent to the front last winter? We know that there was an order to wear digital camo only. But it does not make sense in such cold.
As appeared, it was not the order that made the military wear this camo, they just wore what they were supplied with by the state. Only some experienced officers had real winter uniform provided by volunteers last year. A few had winter jackets that they bought or brought themselves.
Militaries say that volunteers are rare visitors here. Actually, we were the first to come. The situation was weird because guys of the 6th mobilization round had only a vague idea of how we work. These guys were not at all used to receiving gifts from volunteers. Imagine, some soldiers asked about the cost of the winter jackets we brought. Never before have I heard such questions at the frontline.
How come they’ve only heard about volunteers but haven’t met them yet? The dramatic lack of communication between volunteers and the 6th round of mobilization – that’s what happened.
This is no wonder, volunteers try to cover the most urgent cases, and just cannot help everyone at once. Too few of us stay loyal to fieldwork. Some older volunteers are now involved in the Defense Ministry projects and praise the military uniforms they are providing. They used to state that our soldiers were treated like “cannon fodder”, and now they claim that our army has everything it needs.
The officers also tend to say that they’ve got everything they need. Though, according to our observations and private conversations, it is far from being truth. The lack of winter uniform just strikes the eye.
Some of the officers at the position either heard about us or remembered us bringing them various stuff. I remembered them too. They led us through the frontline as we were nearly trapped under fire. They brought us to a safer place and went to the battle. They were dressed in dirty, but hard-wearing multicam then.
Now, all of them wear digital camo and “Talan” boots provided by the Ministry. The camo that is made of sleazy synthetic fabric and the boots that look pretty nice but are fit for neither cold nor warm weather. In winter, if you are wearing this digi camo and have no thermal underwear and warm mid-layer, you have no chance to feel comfortable even inside a car.
When we come to a certain position, we usually bring some “presents”, get (to know the guys and create a list of things they’d like to have. So, a private started to enumerate stuff like nails, clips, coating, and fabric banners (used for hydro isolation purposes). Point-by-point, we found out that power units, chain saws, and warm jackets would be very handy too. Here you are, “the army is fully supplied.”
We came to this position right after some journalists’ visit. I bet these officers had put on good faces and said they’ve got all they need. Sad, but they must operate under the order which states that volunteers have nothing to do at the frontline.
CHAPTER 5
FIRST ROUND
Very soon soldiers who faced a difficult year of war, a year of armistice, will be demobilized. A year that was full of great challenges almost impossible to sustain. The year of never-ending order enforced truces that were in many cases abided by our side only. Just imagine how hard it was for a soldier, who volunteered to the front to protect his country, to follow the orders from above demanding not to respond to the aggressor who invaded your territory and may have injured or even killed your mate. That caused immense pressure that not everyone could handle. And not everyone handled, and not everyone survived. But those who did are now the backbone of the army. And these are the people, who now still go out for a “walk” at night, while following the order not push the front line.
Many from the first wave plan return back after the discharge as contractors to the next wave of mobilization, just cannot sit behind. Some of them say that we need to find way with the government first, because there is no sense to sit still with no progress. There is no point fighting Russia, when Kiev is full of rats. Some will never return, since already payed their ultimate price in this war.
I am the first round of volunteers. I went to front in 2014.
First couple of months I just kept sending the transports doing all the logistics from Kyiv. After some time I realized, that that’s not how the things should work for me, since I needed to be on the spot to have the full picture and feel actual needs that should be covered. And this spot lies near the front line.
Now, for instance, there are many from the sixth wave, who do not even have an idea about volunteers and how they work. They freeze in the praised uniform and boots, they need what “army oversupplies” cannot provide them with – tools, nails, power units, machinery and parts, chain saws etc. I hear their voices, I hold the requests in my hand – I exactly know what they need. And I would have never known that if I was sitting back in Kyiv.
Yes, driving along the front line is more dangerous, this may not give me the picture from a wider angle in some cases, but I am not an analyst, I am a doer. This is my place in the conflict where I can do my best and even beyond, having in mind that my every effort will add up to the victory and make is closer. I believe that one day I will see that the borders of my country are back to where they should be.
Amen.
https://www.facebook.com/fondDMEnglish/posts/1673276579600012
The details of Diana Makarova's Fund for charitable donations.
THE UNKNOWN FRONTLINE
We pack our car to the limit and drive through the frontline at least once in a fortnight. This fact let us firmly state that we know the situation right there, we know who occupies certain positions, and we know their real needs.
The situation across the front is changing rapidly even when a timely ceasefire is officially declared. Thus, if someone says that he knows the front because he visited some positions “only three months ago,” don’t trust “the expert.” All he used to know is a distant past.
Demobilized militaries seem to be a reliable source of information about the frontline, don’t they? But militaries only share details they see fit. Probably, something about their positions. However, they usually know nothing particular about the entire sector, and doubtfully have any idea about the businesses of, for example, the National Guard if they belong to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Some say, guys from the headquarters must have up-to-date information about the frontline. Oh, yes they have. Just don’t be surprised if some high-ranking officer’s story would sound exclusively positive and a bit artificial. I mean,for example, the reports from Ukrainian General Staff or the Ministry of Defence which are quite alike.
As for my part, I prefer to trust my own eyes and ears. That’s why when I hear something like “why would the head of a charity fund visit the front personally?”, I just smile.
I am not an exception. I could’ve mentioned a lot of leaders of Ukrainian volunteer organizations who are spending much time at the front.
We receive many calls from soldiers, mothers, and other unindifferent people. Their requests may contain numerous items, and every item is crucial. Meanwhile, our possibilities are very limited. So, we, in the FUND, prefer to meet our soldiers personally. We get to know each other, assess the changing needs, and based on our own experience set the priorities of the foundation.
...Three weeks have passed since I’ve been there for the last time. So, we’ll have seven days to find out what has changed during this period and what the current needs are.
CHAPTER 2
VOLUNTEERS
Very few of us remain frontline volunteers. In 2014, when everything has just begun, there were many of us, and everyone had their mission and specialization.
Military volunteers supplied our soldiers with equipment, uniform, combat boots, optics, scopes, electronics, in other words, with various stuff for military uses.
We rarely brought any food, unless we planned to plough through encirclement. Usually, we just had no place in our car. We also ignored socks, cakes, or else.
We tried to avoid “second-hand” civil shops and bought more expensive military clothes out of respect for the uniform and army fashion.
Medical volunteers supplied hospitals and did their best in tactical medicine.
Food-supplying volunteers had a bigger public support and, generally, received enough of food packages from supermarkets, village and city communes, volunteering cooking formations and multiple non-profit organizations.
Civil volunteers helped in relocation and evacuation of civilians, supported orphans, collected food packages for residents of abandoned villages, etc.
Sometimes we, military volunteers, had to take care of the same things. We’ve also learned how to pack food and how to evacuate civilians under gunfire.
Entertaining volunteers like no other could boost morale and raise spirits of Ukrainian defenders. Singing, dancing, and storytelling are essential in showing how we care and appreciate what our soldiers do. That’s why we grab a guitar at times and make our performance.
The last ones, check-in volunteers, were rarely observed at forward positions and never at flashpoints or near mousetraps. They hardly ever did anything worthy. During the ceasefire, they were the first to go to the front and make lovely photos with militaries.
Now, volunteering is not that popular, and very few still visit the front. However, those who remained have a will to carry on and a solid understanding of their mission. Most of them are military volunteers.
There is also a bunch of medical volunteers left, who are mostly busy with showing how to use the modern first aid kits. While a good deal of militarists are still forced to use useless legacy kits produced in the Soviet Union.
Very few volunteers now help civilians. Their responsibilities are mostly undertaken by the private organization of the well-known oligarch of Donetsk origin. Besides, many civilians became high-fed and arrogant.
Army-oriented food volunteers also have little to do now. Fortunately, state food supplying system is growing better. Though, sometimes exceptions happen, and food volunteers go back to their job.
There's still a lot of check-in volunteers.
You ask, why the number of volunteers has reduced dramatically?
First, the Army supply system has improved. It is far from perfect, but Ukrainian soldiers, at least, aren’t starving and have something to put on.
Second, the motivation of volunteers is weaker while their work seems more exhausting than it used to at the beginning of the war. Our mission was far more dangerous, and our job felt more like a heroic deed. It was extremely motivating, unlike the routine of today.
Watching like soldiers perform some senseless or stupidly dangerous orders is not motivating. For, what’s the use of whitening curbs at the frontline or marching back and forth right along the forward positions?
It seems now and again that Ukrainian high officers try to command any nonsense just to keep their subordinates busy.
Here’s the story: another high-ranking officer comes to a front position and commands to replace metal anti-tank hedgehogs with wooden ones. Pure nonsense. Yet, the officer argues that they are easier to carry out… “and probably effective against wooden tanks,” joke soldiers.
CHAPTER 3
THE 6TH ROUND OF MOBILIZATION
Today, the most of our defenders are rookies of the 5th and 6th mobilization rounds. A few of them know what a real military conflict is, except a bunch of those who are constantly under fire or those who somehow obtained such an experience.These guys do not feel danger and become heedless.
Here is an example. We were driving to the checkpoint near N., which is only a kilometer away from the forward positions. It is guarded by a soldier talking on the phone.
We stopped because that is an obligatory requirement at checkpoints. The soldier paid little attention to us and waved his hand, showing we can drive away. So, we passed.
As we needed to ask for directions, I stopped the car near the checkpoint booth to ask for help. The soldier who let us pass still stood talking ten meters away.
The entrance to the booth was covered only with a blanket. I looked in. I know, there must’ve been at least two guardians at the checkpoint for the safety’s sake. Benches, table, small stove, weapon and no one inside.
We moved on. A little further we saw another guardian. He went slowly, carrying a bag in his hand. Probably, he left his position just to go to the local store. That’s what I call reckless. Basically, anyone could’ve passed through the checkpoint, come into their booth and taken whatever they wanted.
The second example.
Ukrainian militaries received an order to go to a populated area unarmed. The city they are visiting is two hundred meters away from the frontier, where the danger of attack is permanent. But they still go there without any weapon because they have the order. Those who go armless are mostly soldiers of the 5th and 6th round of mobilization. Experienced militaries prefer to keep the weapon despite the order for consequences might be severe.
CHAPTER 4
DIGITAL CAMO AND “TALAN” BOOTS
Driving along the frontline, we were surprised to see that many were wearing cold digital camo instead of winter uniform from volunteers. Where are fur jackets that volunteers sent to the front last winter? We know that there was an order to wear digital camo only. But it does not make sense in such cold.
As appeared, it was not the order that made the military wear this camo, they just wore what they were supplied with by the state. Only some experienced officers had real winter uniform provided by volunteers last year. A few had winter jackets that they bought or brought themselves.
Militaries say that volunteers are rare visitors here. Actually, we were the first to come. The situation was weird because guys of the 6th mobilization round had only a vague idea of how we work. These guys were not at all used to receiving gifts from volunteers. Imagine, some soldiers asked about the cost of the winter jackets we brought. Never before have I heard such questions at the frontline.
How come they’ve only heard about volunteers but haven’t met them yet? The dramatic lack of communication between volunteers and the 6th round of mobilization – that’s what happened.
This is no wonder, volunteers try to cover the most urgent cases, and just cannot help everyone at once. Too few of us stay loyal to fieldwork. Some older volunteers are now involved in the Defense Ministry projects and praise the military uniforms they are providing. They used to state that our soldiers were treated like “cannon fodder”, and now they claim that our army has everything it needs.
The officers also tend to say that they’ve got everything they need. Though, according to our observations and private conversations, it is far from being truth. The lack of winter uniform just strikes the eye.
Some of the officers at the position either heard about us or remembered us bringing them various stuff. I remembered them too. They led us through the frontline as we were nearly trapped under fire. They brought us to a safer place and went to the battle. They were dressed in dirty, but hard-wearing multicam then.
Now, all of them wear digital camo and “Talan” boots provided by the Ministry. The camo that is made of sleazy synthetic fabric and the boots that look pretty nice but are fit for neither cold nor warm weather. In winter, if you are wearing this digi camo and have no thermal underwear and warm mid-layer, you have no chance to feel comfortable even inside a car.
When we come to a certain position, we usually bring some “presents”, get (to know the guys and create a list of things they’d like to have. So, a private started to enumerate stuff like nails, clips, coating, and fabric banners (used for hydro isolation purposes). Point-by-point, we found out that power units, chain saws, and warm jackets would be very handy too. Here you are, “the army is fully supplied.”
We came to this position right after some journalists’ visit. I bet these officers had put on good faces and said they’ve got all they need. Sad, but they must operate under the order which states that volunteers have nothing to do at the frontline.
CHAPTER 5
FIRST ROUND
Very soon soldiers who faced a difficult year of war, a year of armistice, will be demobilized. A year that was full of great challenges almost impossible to sustain. The year of never-ending order enforced truces that were in many cases abided by our side only. Just imagine how hard it was for a soldier, who volunteered to the front to protect his country, to follow the orders from above demanding not to respond to the aggressor who invaded your territory and may have injured or even killed your mate. That caused immense pressure that not everyone could handle. And not everyone handled, and not everyone survived. But those who did are now the backbone of the army. And these are the people, who now still go out for a “walk” at night, while following the order not push the front line.
Many from the first wave plan return back after the discharge as contractors to the next wave of mobilization, just cannot sit behind. Some of them say that we need to find way with the government first, because there is no sense to sit still with no progress. There is no point fighting Russia, when Kiev is full of rats. Some will never return, since already payed their ultimate price in this war.
I am the first round of volunteers. I went to front in 2014.
First couple of months I just kept sending the transports doing all the logistics from Kyiv. After some time I realized, that that’s not how the things should work for me, since I needed to be on the spot to have the full picture and feel actual needs that should be covered. And this spot lies near the front line.
Now, for instance, there are many from the sixth wave, who do not even have an idea about volunteers and how they work. They freeze in the praised uniform and boots, they need what “army oversupplies” cannot provide them with – tools, nails, power units, machinery and parts, chain saws etc. I hear their voices, I hold the requests in my hand – I exactly know what they need. And I would have never known that if I was sitting back in Kyiv.
Yes, driving along the front line is more dangerous, this may not give me the picture from a wider angle in some cases, but I am not an analyst, I am a doer. This is my place in the conflict where I can do my best and even beyond, having in mind that my every effort will add up to the victory and make is closer. I believe that one day I will see that the borders of my country are back to where they should be.
Amen.
https://www.facebook.com/fondDMEnglish/posts/1673276579600012
The details of Diana Makarova's Fund for charitable donations.
