- Now it got quieter here, right? - Yes, yes.
- Can you tell us about the situation here in Spartak? - Right now it is quiet, there is no shooting. We can say that those international negotiation processes somehow influence the situation at the contact line. Now it is quiet. I don't know what will happen tomorrow.
- Everyday USA, Europe, and Ukraine are making statements that there will be an intensive war soon because Russians are aggressive. However, you have said that it is Ukraine that is aggressive. Why do you think western governments and media are stating that Russia is to blame for what is going to happen?
- They always put a blame on Russia, West has always blamed Russia. In the context of what is happening today, in short, you can explain it to people like this: Ukraine, just as its partners, USA and UK.. however, they are not partners, they are landlords, they want to make everything possible to include Russia into the conflict.
They want to involve Russia in the conflict, which I call a civilian war in Ukraine. They want to make it an international war. They want to include Russia, which is why they make those statements.
If you listen only to the Ukrainian politicians, then you'll see how they change their opinion everyday. At first, they say that there will be an attack, the next day - no. After some time they claim that there will be an attack again.
Let them make their mind on it. Or maybe they already have an attack in their heads, which is why they think it will be this way. It is hard for me to comment on the words of Ukrainian politicians. But if the aggression was really coming from Russia, it would have been done a long time ago.
If Russia wanted it. But Russia doesn't want it, which means it can't be the aggressor. So Russia is always to blame, and they want to make Russia extreme in the situation that is happening in Ukraine.
- What do you personally think will happen soon? Will it be intense or not? - Soon? Spring is coming soon. It will be sunny and warm, so there will be hope that life will change and it will be more substantial. But life continues.
What is warmth? Warmth is life. Plants begin to grow, animals begin to come out of hibernation, birds will return back, it is happiness. So, soon is spring. Then it will be summer. And we will see what will be after summer. - Thank you very much.
There! We were given coal..
- Hello! I haven't been here for a long time. How are you? - It's fine, all right. - What news do you have?
- They fixed the light for us in 2019, last year water was connected to us. Also, we had one of the apartments destroyed, so we got the roof fixed and new windows, can you see that?
The Red Cross gradually allocates building materials to us. The houses are being repaired, roofs are being fixed, windows are being inserted, Spartak is being slowly repaired.
- Does only the Red Cross help you? - The Red Cross gives us building materials, but the guys who repair everything are our guys. - From the DPR government? - Yes.
- What is the situation like here? Any shootings? - Yes, there are shootings sometimes. It's okay. Now it is quieter.
- Maybe you've heard that recently USA, Europe, and Ukraine are making statements that there will be an intensive war soon because of Russian aggression. However, Russia and DPR say that it is Ukraine that is aggressive. What do you think?
- I think there will be no war. This is my opinion, but I think there will be no war. I think Russia will not abandon us, which is why I think that there will be no war. - However there is a little bit of war now. What do you think it takes to have complete peace?
- They need to agree and put an end to all of it. How long can it last? It's been 8 years old. In May it will be 8 years. - How is the child? - Vika. She's already grown up. She enrolled to study at a pedagogical college in Donetsk.
- How old is she now? - She is 16 now. - I remember when she was 8-9 years old. How fast children grow up. How many people are left here now? - It didn't change. Around 70 people live here.
- How many people there was before the war? - Before there were around 3-4 thousand. - What about a shop? - No shop.
- But there is light, water and gas now, right? - There is no gas. Only light and water. - What do you do when you need food products?
- I go to Donetsk. - How far is the closest shop? - We have a bus station there, so it takes around 10-15 minutes to the station, and then it doesn't take long. Donetsk is close, around 5 kilometers away. So we use the bus that is coming here. So we go to Donetsk sometimes.
- Are there any children here? - No, all of them grew up.
- Hello! Long time no see. How are you? - It is fine. We are glad to see you. - What news do you have?
- it became quieter now. We are starting to live now, more or less. We have the light, water, the roof is repaired, the windows are installed, civilization is coming, it is closer to us now. So we hope it will end soon and we will all come back home.
- I've heard that 76 people live here, right? - Yes, so many people come in spring to take care of the gardens. But now it is winter, so just a few people. The village is being repaired, we have teams to do that.
- USA, Europe, and Ukraine are making statements that there will be an intensive war soon because of Russian aggression. However, Russia and DPR say that it is Ukraine that is aggressive. What do you think?
- My opinion is that if Russia really wanted it, it would have entered Ukraine long ago and where it would be necessary, it would get there. So that is just some mess. Some say that they want to involve Russia in all this. Ukraine is already so screwed up. But they continue to receive money, which should be given away.
- And what do you expect? Will the war start? - I'd not like it to happen. It's been already 8 years of war here. We saw the war. A heavy one. We do not want a war. We want everything to be settled down in a peaceful way.
- If here's a heavy war, not even like it was before but much heavier, what will you do? - I didn't get it. - If a very heavy war starts here, heavier than before, what will you do?
- It actually was a really heavy war here! For us. We managed. But if it starts again, we'll move somewhere. - Really? - Yes. Another same situation we won't stand. Do you see? People are on the edge here. Everybody is on the edge.
We'd like this all just stop faster. But it doesn't stop! The situation seems like only growing more and more! We'll go somewhere... I don't speak for everybody but people won't stand this. We went through so much...
- And what's this? - We live here the whole day. - Really? - Yes. Over here we burn stoves and have food. We're here till the evening. In the evening we go to Putilovka. Our neighbors stay here. - I see.
- Hello. - Hello. - How's it going? - It's okay.
- How is the situation here? - It's okay. We are all okay. - Really? - Yes. - Do they shoot here? - Sometimes. - Really? And how many people are here nowadays? - 80 people: 40 yards, 2 persons in each. - And how's life going?
- We are Russians, so we never give up! - the USA, Europe, and Ukraine said that soon will start an intensive war provoked by Russian aggression. What do you think about this? What can you say? - Honestly, Patrick? -Yes!
- I was born in the USSR. I'm a woman from the last century. How long was the Great Patriotic War? From 1941 till 1945. But it was a war. With a Nazi Germany. What is going on nowadays? I have no idea. It's not a war. It's a fratricide.
We are one with Ukraine, we were one. We are fond of the Ukrainian language, we love Shevchenko... but I have no idea what's been going on for all these 8 years. We all want peace. We are just tired, really. Just peace.
- What do you think about the negotiations that have started recently on international platforms? Will they lead to peace? - They will. All is gonna be okay. One should always stay optimistic. I guess it'll be okay. Russia will not let Donbass down.
- And what country will Donetsk People's Republic belong to? - I think, we'll be back home - to Russia. - Really? - Yes. - Ukraine? - No! Tell me honestly, Patrick, I've been living in a destroyed house for 8 years, Russia pays me a pension, I work, I have my temper, my children's house burned down
from the only one direct hit, and after this I should smile to Ukraine? No! I want to be back, in Russia. I'm Russian! I was born in the Urals, raised up in Bryansk, but yes, I was brought here when I was four... no can do. My children were raised here. And even my grandchildren.
Soon I'll have great-grandchildren. That's it. Only Russia. - I see. You've said they destroyed your house. How many houses were shelled here, in percents? - Like, how many are destroyed? - Yes. - I can't say precisely, about 40-50%. - Fully or partially?
- If we count from the side of Avdeevka, where we also have a settlement (Kontora, Khozdvory, Dikiy), well yes... almost nothing is left there. And in Dikiy - every second. Dikiy is located by the take-off.
- How can we call you in credits? Introduce yourself, please. - My name is Irina.
- Thank you! Goodbye! - Goodbye! - May your guardian angel be by your side! - Same for you!