- The assault rifle! - It's mine! Let's go!
- Excuse me, what is your home town? - Mine? My home is Donetsk. - Do you think you'll cope fast? - What do you think? Really, what do you think? We have a strong fighting spirit! I want to be back home quickly! - What's your call sign? - Mine?
- Should I say him? - It's only a call sign. - It's Zakhar. - Greetings to our families and wives! Wait for us! We'll soon be back with a victory! - What is your TV channel? - It's Izvestia REN TV. - Dear, I'll be back home soon!
- Step back!
- Can you say, where are we located now? - Where are you now? It's a Greek village, the village of Bugas, the Volnovakha district. - As far as I know, the Ukrainian troops have been here not long ago, right? - We already do not know exactly, are there Ukrainians or the DPR.
But nobody offended us here. They even offered us food and water. Both sides didn't offend us. But the shelling is really heavy, this is terrible! We do not live, we hide! In the basements! So many nights we spent in the basements!
Because it's unbearable! - As I can see, in comparison to what can be, your village is almost okay, right? - They say, four people were killed on the highway nearby, two married couples. - Who killed them? What is the story? - I don't know.
But perhaps, Ukrainians. Because the DPR has not been here yet at that time. The Ukrainians were. They destroyed the cafes, the houses, took citizens' cars. They got into houses and stole stuff. But not all of them. Not all.
- Do you know what kind of warriors has been here? Was it army or nationalists? - I don't distinguish. - Excuse me, what is your name? - Anastasia Savelievna Hadzh-Farbezhi. It's a Greek surname. - Strong health to you! - Thank you! - Thank you!
- Can you say, how do you feel about the Donetsk People's Republic? How is it for you? - We want to belong to Donetsk, not to Ukrainians. - So you don't want Ukraine? - No, I want Russia. - Okay, I see. Why? - It has a clever President Putin. We want him to help us.
Because Putin helps us. If not Putin, we all would be destroyed here. He sent Russian troops, we know this. That's good! The whole village and the whole Volnovakha district loves him! And today they all will shoot in Volnovakha.
The DPR kicks out Ukrainians and wants to get back Volnovakha, Mariupol. Like this. They have been shooting so much in the morning! I couldn't stand this. - This morning? - Today. At 9 am it was very heavy. We ran to the basement!
- So Ukrainians are still here and continue shooting? - Probably.
- Have you asked them who are they? Do you think they won't tell you if you ask? - Anastasia Savelievna! - Don't you come to them? - We do! It's DPR. - This is good. - Tell us how do you live last days here. - Very bad. No gas, no electricity. We can't cook.
The stores are closed. Ukrainians removed all locks. They took away all food and so many cigarette boxes. They just got inside and took whatever they wanted. But we do our best. If there are stoves in the houses, we chop wood to heat the stoves.
Thus we warm ourselves up. But not everybody has stoves. And then what? And if they have small children? - What do you eat? - We have cows, we have pork, we have a lot of meat! We don't have a mood to eat! We couldn't sleep! We were in the basement, cuddling in the blanket and being so afraid!
Because they were shelling so heavily. - How many civilians live here now? - Not many. All the young people left. The elderly stayed to upkeep the houses and livestock. The young people left in their cars. They took their children and left.
- What do you hope for? - We hope that the DPR kicks out Ukrainians and we have peace here. And we will belong to Donetsk and maybe then after to Russia, I don't know. We want to Russia. - Have Ukrainian military men offered you evacuation?
You said young people left but nobody has evacuated you. - Nobody. - And didn't they even ask? - No. - So they just packed their things and left? - Yes. People have been moved from Donetsk to the Rostov region but as for us - no.
- Come in! - Thank you! - Come in! This way.
- Here is the elderly woman. She is backing crumpets. Here is the yeast dough. Bread. We call them crumpets in Greek (sourdough bread). - Tell them why do we have to use the stove. Because there is no gas, no electricity. - Well, yes!
They have already heard about this. As for coal... let's see if we have coal and whether it will be or not. - Ukrainians were here not long ago, right? - Yes, we are Ukrainians, so here were Ukrainians. - And now it's DPR, right? And Russia? - Probably. Let it be so.
- No, I mean the troops of the DPR and Russia are here now, right? - Yes. - And how do you feel about this? Is it good or bad? - They haven't done anything bad to us. - Okay.
- The granny has already backed a crumpet. - What country would you like to live in? Ukraine, the DPR, or Russia? Which one? - In Russia! We don't need Ukraine anymore! - Really? Don't need it? - It's enough! - Are you from the OSCE? - No, I'm a journalist. Correspondent.
And what about you? What country would you like to live in? - I don't want to move to any other country. - No, here. What country would you like to be here? Ukraine or Russia or... - Should I tell the truth? - Yes! - I want Ukraine. It should be free and in good relations with other states.
We should love and don't try to get to NATO. But if it's like this, it's also okay. It will do. - Thank you very much!
Goodbye! - Goodbye! Thank you! - Thank you!