UKRAINE: The Female Fighters of Donbass
1
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My life had nothing to do with the military.
2
00:00:13,772 --> 00:00:16,945
I was a mother of two children and that's still what I am.
3
00:00:17,547 --> 00:00:20,680
I try to be a mom, even at a distance.
4
00:00:25,571 --> 00:00:27,594
When our soldiers started dying,
5
00:00:27,710 --> 00:00:29,906
we couldn't just stand by.
6
00:00:31,695 --> 00:00:33,944
So, we entered
military training.
7
00:00:34,248 --> 00:00:36,747
You need to train as
a sniper every day.
8
00:00:37,118 --> 00:00:39,187
As a professional,
you're always learning.
9
00:00:47,953 --> 00:00:51,380
Sometimes,
shooting first saves a life.
10
00:00:52,274 --> 00:00:54,133
I wouldn't choose
another profession.
11
00:00:56,471 --> 00:00:58,707
For me other professions...
12
00:00:58,950 --> 00:01:00,740
didn't mean enough
13
00:01:01,588 --> 00:01:04,443
that I could justify
leaving my children.
14
00:01:04,513 --> 00:01:07,180
I gave up everything
to go to the front.
15
00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:17,297
I saw a possibility to
inflict losses on the enemy,
16
00:01:17,768 --> 00:01:21,752
and I saw an opportunity
to save lives on our side,
17
00:01:23,232 --> 00:01:25,199
Ultimately to
destroy the enemy.
18
00:01:46,992 --> 00:01:48,703
Yulia is a woman at war.
19
00:01:49,461 --> 00:01:51,945
A mother of two and a
trained economist,
20
00:01:52,508 --> 00:01:54,600
she decided to
interrupt her career
21
00:01:54,625 --> 00:01:57,882
to take part in the
conflict in east Ukraine.
22
00:01:59,055 --> 00:02:02,812
As a civilian volunteer,
she was sent to a morgue
23
00:02:03,149 --> 00:02:05,484
to identify a soldier
that had been killed.
24
00:02:06,375 --> 00:02:07,375
She was shocked.
25
00:02:07,867 --> 00:02:08,987
She signed up as a soldier,
26
00:02:09,616 --> 00:02:13,406
decided to fight
and became a sniper.
27
00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,820
This is my life,
it's my guys' lives
28
00:02:28,539 --> 00:02:31,507
and it's my comrades' lives.
29
00:02:33,671 --> 00:02:36,405
You have to do this regularly,
after every shot,
30
00:02:36,471 --> 00:02:37,864
at least twice a week
31
00:02:37,961 --> 00:02:40,419
but unfortunately I
can't always do it.
32
00:02:40,479 --> 00:02:42,433
We try to keep our guns clean,
33
00:02:42,827 --> 00:02:44,772
your accuracy depends on it.
34
00:02:44,797 --> 00:02:46,535
That's why it's the
most important thing.
35
00:02:46,651 --> 00:02:49,079
I can manage without water,
36
00:02:49,177 --> 00:02:50,638
without a shower,
37
00:02:51,250 --> 00:02:53,919
but my gun must be clean.
38
00:02:56,732 --> 00:03:00,140
He was a soldier before the war.
39
00:03:00,648 --> 00:03:04,515
Boys always like guns,
from when they're kids.
40
00:03:07,202 --> 00:03:08,286
Yulia is a pro,
41
00:03:08,488 --> 00:03:10,288
she prefers precision weapons,
42
00:03:10,486 --> 00:03:13,067
I prefer explosives
to things that shoot.
43
00:03:15,108 --> 00:03:16,326
In my room
44
00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:17,960
I have loads of them.
45
00:03:19,302 --> 00:03:20,302
Honestly.
46
00:03:25,266 --> 00:03:27,234
Arthur is Yulia's partner.
47
00:03:27,547 --> 00:03:29,258
Snipers always work in pairs.
48
00:03:34,061 --> 00:03:35,061
The troops know her well
49
00:03:35,673 --> 00:03:37,376
and she's often at the front,
50
00:03:37,401 --> 00:03:39,649
opposite other snipers.
51
00:03:45,173 --> 00:03:47,622
Women have a particular character.
52
00:03:47,658 --> 00:03:49,029
We're a bit more unpredictable.
53
00:03:50,296 --> 00:03:52,357
That's why female snipers
54
00:03:52,535 --> 00:03:54,224
aren't necessarily the best,
55
00:03:54,520 --> 00:03:56,052
but they're harder to...
56
00:03:56,959 --> 00:03:57,762
work out.
57
00:03:58,255 --> 00:03:59,653
No one knows what to expect
58
00:03:59,678 --> 00:04:01,552
That's the worst kind of enemy
59
00:04:01,638 --> 00:04:02,638
as a rule.
60
00:04:05,468 --> 00:04:07,686
I want to frighten them.
61
00:04:14,554 --> 00:04:17,170
For two years, in 2014 and 2015,
62
00:04:17,397 --> 00:04:19,475
Ukrainians and
pro-Russian militias
63
00:04:19,577 --> 00:04:22,451
fought bitterly for
control of Donbass.
64
00:04:24,546 --> 00:04:27,100
The intense combat cost
over 10,000 lives,
65
00:04:27,546 --> 00:04:28,586
including many civilians.
66
00:04:30,284 --> 00:04:32,776
The Ukrainian army, with
civilian volunteers
67
00:04:32,862 --> 00:04:34,940
and nationalist
paramilitary militias,
68
00:04:35,479 --> 00:04:37,885
was fighting Ukrainian
separatists,
69
00:04:38,425 --> 00:04:39,425
supported by Russia.
70
00:04:43,971 --> 00:04:44,971
In early 2015,
71
00:04:45,378 --> 00:04:47,947
Minsk II established a
line of demarcation
72
00:04:48,268 --> 00:04:49,526
and imposed a ceasefire.
73
00:04:59,861 --> 00:05:03,487
A line currently runs along
the separatist privinces,
74
00:05:03,815 --> 00:05:06,237
from Luhansk, in the north,
to Donetsk, in the south.
75
00:05:10,378 --> 00:05:12,424
But the ceasefire is
violated every day.
76
00:05:13,065 --> 00:05:15,612
Constant, low-intensity conflict
77
00:05:15,666 --> 00:05:18,322
causes death and
injury on both sides.
78
00:05:22,753 --> 00:05:24,119
Several times a week,
79
00:05:24,252 --> 00:05:27,268
Yulia leaves her base in Mariupol
to go back to the front.
80
00:05:28,729 --> 00:05:30,830
She sometimes brings back footage.
81
00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:52,174
They came to my country,
my children's land.
82
00:05:53,010 --> 00:05:57,718
If I didn't kill them, they'd
kill us, including me.
83
00:05:58,513 --> 00:05:59,357
And...
84
00:06:00,147 --> 00:06:01,569
I have no other choice.
85
00:06:03,623 --> 00:06:05,865
Yes, sometimes I become very sad,
86
00:06:05,918 --> 00:06:06,934
but I don't let it show.
87
00:06:07,061 --> 00:06:08,061
It's a big secret.
88
00:06:08,086 --> 00:06:09,247
I shut myself in my room,
89
00:06:09,296 --> 00:06:10,879
don't let anyone bother
me for a few days.
90
00:06:12,686 --> 00:06:13,792
Then I pull myself together.
91
00:06:14,433 --> 00:06:17,021
and tell myself things like...
92
00:06:17,046 --> 00:06:18,279
"Get up, get ready,
93
00:06:18,304 --> 00:06:19,304
you must go back again!
94
00:06:19,624 --> 00:06:21,304
If you don't want
to bury your own,
95
00:06:22,540 --> 00:06:24,522
then you need to bury others."
96
00:06:27,897 --> 00:06:30,812
The chaos of war and the
numerous operations
97
00:06:30,835 --> 00:06:32,866
have killed many civilians.
98
00:06:33,648 --> 00:06:35,647
Mistakes are common
on the frontline.
99
00:06:37,123 --> 00:06:38,203
I was with a colleague.
100
00:06:38,758 --> 00:06:40,601
We rarely work alone.
101
00:06:46,859 --> 00:06:49,243
We saw a soldier coming along
102
00:06:49,268 --> 00:06:51,320
he had a rifle on his back.
103
00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:52,921
There was tall grass.
104
00:06:54,037 --> 00:06:55,162
He was walking along
105
00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:56,632
to where the grass ended.
106
00:06:56,881 --> 00:06:58,164
My colleague was ready to shoot
107
00:06:58,325 --> 00:06:59,675
I shifted slightly,
108
00:07:00,186 --> 00:07:01,513
and then I saw,
109
00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:02,882
and he saw - my colleague -
110
00:07:02,919 --> 00:07:05,050
at the very last second
he caught sight of...
111
00:07:06,203 --> 00:07:07,254
He didn't shoot.
112
00:07:07,309 --> 00:07:09,225
The man was holding the
hand of a small child.
113
00:07:09,377 --> 00:07:12,113
I thank god and fate...
114
00:07:13,007 --> 00:07:14,607
that nothing happened,
115
00:07:15,457 --> 00:07:17,333
that we didn't shoot then,
116
00:07:17,466 --> 00:07:19,193
and hope that in the near future
117
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or ever in my life
118
00:07:20,396 --> 00:07:22,099
that never happens
again because
119
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I couldn't bear it.
120
00:07:31,546 --> 00:07:33,944
Yulia has located an outpost.
121
00:07:56,687 --> 00:08:00,100
It's a hollow in the middle of the
fields with buried containers
122
00:08:00,187 --> 00:08:02,194
where soldiers are stationed.
123
00:08:03,460 --> 00:08:06,319
It's exposed and close
to enemy lines.
124
00:08:12,499 --> 00:08:15,155
She speaks to Vasily,
who's in command here.
125
00:08:17,239 --> 00:08:18,239
If I'm talking for
126
00:08:19,201 --> 00:08:20,468
this battalion,
127
00:08:20,625 --> 00:08:22,933
then yes, we have female soldiers,
128
00:08:23,138 --> 00:08:27,669
mostly they fulfil
the need for nurses.
129
00:08:31,615 --> 00:08:32,803
That's enough.
130
00:08:33,913 --> 00:08:37,431
For us, it's strange to see
women involved in war.
131
00:08:37,522 --> 00:08:40,623
I understand feminism,
equality and all that,
132
00:08:40,791 --> 00:08:42,791
but war isn't women's business.
133
00:08:43,928 --> 00:08:46,263
That's why I have a negative
attitude towards it.
134
00:08:49,046 --> 00:08:50,046
I'll specify,
135
00:08:50,131 --> 00:08:52,982
they don't like it, but
they can't fire us.
136
00:08:53,007 --> 00:08:54,616
They have to put up with us.
137
00:08:55,530 --> 00:08:58,538
Women discipline the men a bit.
138
00:08:58,820 --> 00:09:00,749
They make us take
care of ourselves.
139
00:09:01,124 --> 00:09:05,911
But they also create a
certain tension in the team.
140
00:09:06,849 --> 00:09:08,075
We're working on it.
141
00:09:08,112 --> 00:09:09,705
They'll get used to it.
142
00:09:24,671 --> 00:09:28,397
The Ukrainian conflict is
unusual in involving women.
143
00:09:29,178 --> 00:09:32,483
They make up almost a
quarter of the personnel.
144
00:09:33,312 --> 00:09:35,522
They're not required to
do military service,
145
00:09:35,890 --> 00:09:37,710
so they're all volunteers.
146
00:09:38,585 --> 00:09:42,069
After completing a masters
in international relations,
147
00:09:42,538 --> 00:09:44,311
Oksana decided to enlist.
148
00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:52,421
We're a unified center of civilian
and military cooperation,
149
00:09:52,446 --> 00:09:56,436
liasing with the fighting
in east Ukraine.
150
00:09:57,389 --> 00:09:59,506
People have come
forward to help the
151
00:09:59,531 --> 00:10:01,264
families that
need it the most.
152
00:10:01,289 --> 00:10:05,436
We distribute the aid
to the families.
153
00:10:10,226 --> 00:10:11,386
Oksana hands out teddy bears,
154
00:10:11,647 --> 00:10:13,717
but appearances can be deceptive.
155
00:10:14,288 --> 00:10:15,584
She served in the navy
156
00:10:15,819 --> 00:10:17,444
and trained with men.
157
00:10:20,587 --> 00:10:24,444
You learn to get over obstacles
158
00:10:24,749 --> 00:10:27,936
and to assemble, disassemble
and shoot guns.
159
00:10:28,343 --> 00:10:31,858
If you set yourself a
goal, you can achieve it.
160
00:10:35,622 --> 00:10:37,749
Is it hard, psychologically?
161
00:10:38,898 --> 00:10:40,459
Yes, sometimes.
162
00:10:41,475 --> 00:10:43,685
And physically?
163
00:10:43,810 --> 00:10:44,869
Yes, of course.
164
00:10:44,894 --> 00:10:49,357
Walking in a
bullet-proof vest all day
165
00:10:49,558 --> 00:10:52,097
is hard, I think, even for men.
166
00:10:57,304 --> 00:11:02,747
And, of course,
the men are interested in us.
167
00:11:02,997 --> 00:11:05,203
You need a sense of humour!
168
00:11:05,332 --> 00:11:07,665
If you can just make fun of them,
169
00:11:07,690 --> 00:11:08,700
that's the best weapon.
170
00:11:08,872 --> 00:11:10,825
They're away from
their girlfriends -
171
00:11:11,156 --> 00:11:12,356
they come onto you,
172
00:11:12,713 --> 00:11:17,284
if you can handle it
with a bit humour,
173
00:11:17,377 --> 00:11:20,981
then you won't have a problem.
174
00:11:30,123 --> 00:11:32,450
Across the region,
families have been split
175
00:11:32,670 --> 00:11:33,670
by the war.
176
00:11:33,779 --> 00:11:37,046
People aren't always sure
which side to support.
177
00:11:37,918 --> 00:11:40,585
I hope we'll have toys soon,
178
00:11:40,982 --> 00:11:43,169
but for now just
that teddy bear.
179
00:11:43,763 --> 00:11:46,669
Most of the people in
Donbass speak Russian.
180
00:11:47,373 --> 00:11:50,716
Around 40% have a
Russian background.
181
00:11:51,279 --> 00:11:53,325
Oksana and her team
182
00:11:54,279 --> 00:11:56,079
want to create a good image
183
00:11:57,132 --> 00:12:00,799
to bring the villagers onside
with the Ukrainian cause.
184
00:12:01,608 --> 00:12:07,716
Everyone has their own
opinion about the army.
185
00:12:08,482 --> 00:12:09,498
Our main job
186
00:12:09,779 --> 00:12:11,779
is to convince people to trust
187
00:12:12,007 --> 00:12:13,207
the Ukrainian army.
188
00:12:14,528 --> 00:12:16,466
We get that
information out through
189
00:12:16,684 --> 00:12:18,544
our attitude and attention.
190
00:12:18,653 --> 00:12:21,787
We hope that our aid
will change their vision.
191
00:12:28,347 --> 00:12:31,547
The PR operation carries
on with another family.
192
00:12:32,691 --> 00:12:34,757
This family has five children.
193
00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:38,503
The husband was in
the Soviet Red Army.
194
00:12:41,284 --> 00:12:42,284
Hi, Maxim,
195
00:12:43,924 --> 00:12:44,924
Here's what we brought!
196
00:12:45,380 --> 00:12:47,380
All the...
The same as usual.
197
00:12:48,607 --> 00:12:52,575
If you don't want it,
you can give it to someone else.
198
00:12:52,841 --> 00:12:55,497
Or we'll take it when we come
back if you don't like it
199
00:12:56,075 --> 00:12:58,023
and give it to somebody else.
200
00:13:03,412 --> 00:13:04,479
It's a disaster.
201
00:13:04,857 --> 00:13:06,732
With our current wages,
202
00:13:07,654 --> 00:13:10,232
we can't even pay household bills
203
00:13:10,930 --> 00:13:12,872
or buy food.
204
00:13:13,044 --> 00:13:18,200
Because over this
period of five years
205
00:13:19,528 --> 00:13:23,061
average pay has
risen consistently,
206
00:13:23,481 --> 00:13:27,684
but we can buy less with it.
207
00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,731
What do you tell your children
208
00:13:31,826 --> 00:13:33,426
when there's shooting?
209
00:13:34,980 --> 00:13:36,980
We explain things as they are.
210
00:13:37,012 --> 00:13:38,644
They're shooting somewhere...
211
00:13:39,673 --> 00:13:41,161
because something's not right,
212
00:13:41,232 --> 00:13:42,356
but it's not an exercise.
213
00:13:42,397 --> 00:13:44,272
That's the most important
thing to understand -
214
00:13:44,297 --> 00:13:45,297
that it's for real.
215
00:13:46,856 --> 00:13:49,800
Somewhere some town
is being shelled.
216
00:13:50,632 --> 00:13:52,966
If the shooting's far off,
then the children go to school.
217
00:13:52,991 --> 00:13:55,522
If it's closer then we
don't let them go to school
218
00:13:55,778 --> 00:13:57,511
They stay with us at home.
219
00:13:58,754 --> 00:14:00,707
Everyone remembers very well
220
00:14:00,942 --> 00:14:02,723
how the president said
221
00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,427
that everything would end soon.
222
00:14:05,997 --> 00:14:07,669
But it's the reverse.
223
00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:09,320
It's worse and worse.
224
00:14:17,918 --> 00:14:19,747
Despite the conflict,
the checkpoints
225
00:14:19,778 --> 00:14:21,317
and the constant
presence of the army,
226
00:14:21,810 --> 00:14:24,435
800 000 people still live
close to the frontline,
227
00:14:24,532 --> 00:14:26,622
along a 470 km strip.
228
00:14:30,732 --> 00:14:31,932
Living amid a war
229
00:14:32,212 --> 00:14:35,479
that won't speak its name
is a constant struggle.
230
00:14:35,982 --> 00:14:37,449
The society is made up
231
00:14:38,682 --> 00:14:40,682
of different types of fighters.
232
00:14:42,332 --> 00:14:45,203
Olga lives a stone's throw
from the demarcation line.
233
00:14:46,839 --> 00:14:47,839
Hello!
234
00:14:51,261 --> 00:14:55,527
Stray bullets often come
over from the frontline,
235
00:14:55,981 --> 00:14:59,447
so we had to protect the
windows with railroad ties
236
00:14:59,513 --> 00:15:00,846
to keep them intact.
237
00:15:03,713 --> 00:15:06,069
Now we have this joke
238
00:15:06,785 --> 00:15:08,793
that's it's an innovation,
239
00:15:09,252 --> 00:15:10,252
a new design.
240
00:15:12,814 --> 00:15:14,614
There are our vegetable patches
241
00:15:14,787 --> 00:15:16,583
behind them is a little house
242
00:15:16,662 --> 00:15:18,513
which is always
exposed to shelling
243
00:15:19,295 --> 00:15:21,795
and behind that
little tree lined hill
244
00:15:22,387 --> 00:15:23,521
is the frontline.
245
00:15:25,682 --> 00:15:30,658
These nice suprises come
flying over from there.
246
00:15:31,149 --> 00:15:34,372
"Their weight is our harvest".
247
00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:35,895
That's what we say.
248
00:15:36,316 --> 00:15:37,383
Olga is a lawyer
249
00:15:37,888 --> 00:15:40,747
and used to work at Donetsk
International Airport.
250
00:15:40,807 --> 00:15:42,236
which was destroyed
in the conflict.
251
00:15:42,387 --> 00:15:43,723
Life is pretty unsettling here
252
00:15:43,849 --> 00:15:48,252
and even now, there's no
guarantee of our safety.
253
00:15:49,932 --> 00:15:52,540
Because, as you can
hear, it's still going on.
254
00:15:52,838 --> 00:15:55,038
The shelling has already started.
255
00:15:56,526 --> 00:15:58,505
Listen and you'll hear it.
256
00:16:01,292 --> 00:16:02,853
She lost her job,
257
00:16:03,003 --> 00:16:04,841
like many here
258
00:16:05,135 --> 00:16:07,259
who worked in Donetsk,
which is near,
259
00:16:07,321 --> 00:16:08,787
but now inaccessible.
260
00:16:09,615 --> 00:16:11,348
We're scared to stay here,
261
00:16:11,591 --> 00:16:13,125
but we have no choice.
262
00:16:13,774 --> 00:16:17,639
It's pretty much a
humanitarian disaster.
263
00:16:17,890 --> 00:16:19,202
There's no work
264
00:16:19,411 --> 00:16:20,856
and its impossible
265
00:16:21,333 --> 00:16:23,192
to make arrangements to leave.
266
00:16:23,411 --> 00:16:24,944
At least at the moment.
267
00:16:25,932 --> 00:16:28,620
Apart from at the coal plant,
268
00:16:28,709 --> 00:16:31,586
right now people here have no work
269
00:16:31,667 --> 00:16:34,643
or opportunity to provide
for their families.
270
00:16:36,580 --> 00:16:39,615
Yes we are hostages
to the situation
271
00:16:40,650 --> 00:16:43,044
which we can't influence at all.
272
00:16:43,092 --> 00:16:44,361
We're hostages here.
273
00:16:44,427 --> 00:16:46,927
No one asked our opinion.
274
00:16:47,020 --> 00:16:49,443
or takes on board
that we're sick of it,
275
00:16:49,499 --> 00:16:50,817
we want peace,
276
00:16:50,958 --> 00:16:52,380
thousands of people
277
00:16:52,474 --> 00:16:54,263
have become innocent
victims - peaceful people,
278
00:16:54,459 --> 00:16:55,726
peaceful civilians.
279
00:16:58,185 --> 00:16:59,452
It's not dangerous.
280
00:17:08,060 --> 00:17:10,060
"Not dangerous."
It must be a matter of habit.
281
00:17:10,732 --> 00:17:14,399
There's a constant risk of
being hit by a stray bullet.
282
00:17:20,772 --> 00:17:24,505
And there's the danger from
unexploded mines and shells.
283
00:17:25,132 --> 00:17:26,984
Since 2014, Donbass has become
284
00:17:27,092 --> 00:17:29,959
one of the world's most
contaminated areas.
285
00:17:30,932 --> 00:17:33,399
Specialist NGOs
search for the mines
286
00:17:33,972 --> 00:17:36,705
and point them out to
the Ukrainian army,
287
00:17:36,819 --> 00:17:39,819
who decide whether to
neutralize them or not.
288
00:17:40,092 --> 00:17:43,126
Meeting the inhabitants
on the pro-Russian side
289
00:17:43,217 --> 00:17:45,696
to find out about
their daily lives
290
00:17:45,721 --> 00:17:47,032
was not possible.
291
00:17:47,710 --> 00:17:49,577
Independent, critical media
292
00:17:49,790 --> 00:17:52,190
are rarely able to
cross the border.
293
00:17:53,230 --> 00:17:54,697
WE'RE WAITING AT HOME.
294
00:18:07,243 --> 00:18:10,350
After five years of conflict
the factories have slowed down.
295
00:18:10,595 --> 00:18:14,595
People are losing their jobs
and living in ruined buildings.
296
00:18:20,975 --> 00:18:22,975
Towns near the
frontline have suffered.
297
00:18:23,899 --> 00:18:26,132
On a clear day,
you can easily see Donetsk,
298
00:18:26,671 --> 00:18:27,671
Ukraine's fifth city.
299
00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:30,764
The capital of Donbass for
the authorities in Kyiv,
300
00:18:31,374 --> 00:18:34,014
it's the capital of the
Donetsk's People's Republic
301
00:18:34,473 --> 00:18:36,473
for the separatists.
302
00:18:44,295 --> 00:18:47,614
Today, the ICRC is one of
the few organisations
303
00:18:47,639 --> 00:18:49,639
working on both sides.
304
00:18:49,961 --> 00:18:52,333
It's alarmed by the
conditions for civilians
305
00:18:52,370 --> 00:18:55,498
and has put Ukraine among
its priority countries,
306
00:18:55,561 --> 00:18:58,299
deploying aid programs
in all domains.
307
00:19:03,152 --> 00:19:04,886
- Hello.
- Hello.
308
00:19:05,076 --> 00:19:06,146
- Have you come to see us?
- Yes
309
00:19:06,307 --> 00:19:07,307
- Very nice to meet you.
310
00:19:07,456 --> 00:19:08,861
- Shall we go to the ladies?
311
00:19:08,885 --> 00:19:09,885
Thank you.
312
00:19:12,713 --> 00:19:13,980
Hello.
313
00:19:14,536 --> 00:19:15,536
How are you?
314
00:19:17,216 --> 00:19:18,549
How are you feeling?
315
00:19:19,621 --> 00:19:23,472
The elderly are also
fighting to survive here.
316
00:19:24,277 --> 00:19:26,495
Everyone in this house,
equipped by the ICRC,
317
00:19:26,871 --> 00:19:28,785
has lost their property or family.
318
00:19:29,128 --> 00:19:30,713
- I'm not disturbing you?
- No, not at all.
319
00:19:30,780 --> 00:19:32,380
You're Red Cross?
- Yes
320
00:19:32,488 --> 00:19:35,542
The International
Committee of the Red Cross.
321
00:19:38,136 --> 00:19:40,340
- I'm happy to see you.
322
00:19:43,183 --> 00:19:45,886
- How are the beds?
- Excellent.
323
00:19:45,936 --> 00:19:47,469
- Not damaged?
- No.
324
00:19:48,766 --> 00:19:49,911
- I'm glad to hear it.
325
00:19:50,038 --> 00:19:52,879
- The table, the
trunk, all that...
326
00:19:55,172 --> 00:19:57,372
- You've got everything you need?
327
00:19:57,464 --> 00:19:58,855
- Yes, everything.
328
00:19:58,972 --> 00:20:01,431
We've no cause for complaint.
329
00:20:03,958 --> 00:20:05,832
- The main thing is to
keep your spirits up.
330
00:20:06,648 --> 00:20:08,581
Everything else will be okay.
331
00:20:09,828 --> 00:20:11,150
They provide support
332
00:20:11,398 --> 00:20:14,002
for the eight old women,
living here in two small rooms.
333
00:20:15,941 --> 00:20:18,958
They provide support
for the eight old
334
00:20:18,983 --> 00:20:21,652
women, living in
two small rooms.
335
00:20:26,496 --> 00:20:28,589
If people lose their
families in the war,
336
00:20:28,801 --> 00:20:30,321
or get forcilbly
separated from them,
337
00:20:30,543 --> 00:20:33,027
they are bound to suffer,
338
00:20:33,957 --> 00:20:36,425
whether they're
civilians or soldiers.
339
00:20:42,316 --> 00:20:43,516
On the battlefield
340
00:20:43,691 --> 00:20:45,720
Yulia is visiting volunteers
341
00:20:45,745 --> 00:20:46,945
at an aid station.
342
00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:06,680
Warmth and comfort.
343
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,600
It's a contrast to
her life as a sniper
344
00:21:10,650 --> 00:21:14,583
and the memories of the faces
of the people she's cut down.
345
00:21:18,467 --> 00:21:19,863
I don't want to know the rest.
346
00:21:20,004 --> 00:21:21,323
It's easier for me to assume
347
00:21:21,441 --> 00:21:22,441
that I didn't hit them,
348
00:21:26,160 --> 00:21:28,693
that the person just
stumbled and fell.
349
00:21:29,140 --> 00:21:30,874
I'll think about it later,
350
00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:32,200
when the war's over.
351
00:21:32,237 --> 00:21:33,593
If I start thinking about it now
352
00:21:33,633 --> 00:21:34,633
it'll kill me.
353
00:21:34,687 --> 00:21:35,976
That's how we were taught.
354
00:21:37,304 --> 00:21:39,904
I need to think
about my guys first.
355
00:21:40,530 --> 00:21:43,004
The lives of her guys
and her two children,
356
00:21:43,851 --> 00:21:46,851
aged 12 and 13,
being raised by her mother.
357
00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:51,160
- You got ten in geography?
358
00:21:52,445 --> 00:21:53,445
- Yes.
359
00:21:56,225 --> 00:21:57,359
- And in English?
360
00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:01,413
- We didn't have English.
361
00:22:02,973 --> 00:22:04,906
It's starting again tomorrow.
362
00:22:05,756 --> 00:22:06,756
- I see.
363
00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:10,480
- Here's Zlata.
364
00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:13,867
- What do you want?
365
00:22:15,522 --> 00:22:16,522
- She's shy.
366
00:22:17,998 --> 00:22:19,860
Ok, say hi to your sister from me.
367
00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:22,013
I'll call her without the video.
368
00:22:25,575 --> 00:22:27,177
I love you very, very much –
369
00:22:27,202 --> 00:22:28,765
big hugs and kisses.
370
00:22:29,925 --> 00:22:31,592
Do what Granny tells you.
371
00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:39,720
Our kids miss us a lot too.
372
00:22:39,943 --> 00:22:41,943
It's probably harder
373
00:22:42,716 --> 00:22:44,706
when your mum is far away.
374
00:22:45,931 --> 00:22:47,428
I'm also sitting thinking –
375
00:22:47,466 --> 00:22:48,951
I have a complicated relationship
376
00:22:48,976 --> 00:22:49,976
with my daughter.
377
00:22:51,687 --> 00:22:52,687
With my son...
378
00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:56,205
He loves me very much
379
00:22:56,230 --> 00:22:57,230
and I him
380
00:22:57,334 --> 00:22:58,867
I love both my children
381
00:22:59,713 --> 00:23:00,713
but my daughter...
382
00:23:02,178 --> 00:23:03,178
Now she's 13,
383
00:23:03,288 --> 00:23:04,288
a formative age.
384
00:23:05,818 --> 00:23:07,220
She's angry at me,
385
00:23:07,245 --> 00:23:08,300
deep down.
386
00:23:09,772 --> 00:23:10,911
She understands,
387
00:23:10,936 --> 00:23:12,702
but at the same time it hurts her
388
00:23:12,726 --> 00:23:15,052
because for the last four -
almost five years
389
00:23:15,077 --> 00:23:16,210
I haven't been with them.
390
00:23:18,489 --> 00:23:19,489
There's a war going on.
391
00:23:19,584 --> 00:23:21,717
That's a good reason to be away.
392
00:23:27,435 --> 00:23:28,732
We'll get through it.
393
00:23:37,074 --> 00:23:40,385
The war in Donbass hasn't
been forgotten by everybody.
394
00:23:40,748 --> 00:23:42,612
Whether taking up arms,
395
00:23:42,716 --> 00:23:46,153
raising a family or
keeping a school open
396
00:23:46,798 --> 00:23:48,446
women are playing
397
00:23:48,538 --> 00:23:49,693
a major role in the conflict
398
00:23:49,718 --> 00:23:51,785
that is tearing Ukraine apart.
399
00:23:51,822 --> 00:23:55,089
Those women soldiers all
share a common objective:
400
00:23:55,706 --> 00:23:57,506
to get back to normal life.