Let’s fight at school. The mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsinkiv, is visiting and is expected in a few minutes. “Gazda,” a shaved Adonis whose affectionate nickname means “landlord” in Ukrainian, is rounding up the scattered soldiers in the building that serves as a rear base along the Donbass front in Pokrovsk district. The unit gathers in two lines in a former classroom converted into a dormitory. Camp beds, weapons and flags hang on the walls. On one of them, that of the 72nd mechanized brigade, a skull and an inscription: “Ukraine or death”.
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Take care. The mayor of the western city – 238,000 inhabitants before the war – enters with a small, satisfied smile. Ruslan Martsinkiv is visiting this unit, which consists mainly of soldiers from his region, for the first time. Neither soldiers nor conscripts, these grassroots volunteers exemplify their importance within the Ukrainian army. Even the elected official does not come empty-handed at the beginning of winter: in addition to moral support, he and his escort have come to deliver a car and humanitarian aid packages, which are funded by the Ivano-Frankivsk city council.
Nazariy Kishak, a martial arts master turned deputy commander of the 72nd Brigade and nicknamed the “Black Zaporozhians,” a title given in honor of the Cossack cavalry regiment of the same name, offers the visit. First the dormitory, then the kitchen where a couple of men are standing in the kitchen, the showers and finally the gun room. The tour ends with an awards ceremony. The Commander summons the combatants present while the Mayor displays the city’s awards to honor their courage and bravery. General Pride. An Ivano-Frankivsk flag is displayed on the occasion.
Ruslan Martsinkiv, the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, a city in western Ukraine, visits a unit of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade in Provorsk District, Ukraine, on November 25, 2022. LAURENT VAN DER STOCKT FOR THE WORLD ”
Nazariy Khishak, nicknamed “Sheriff”, deputy commander of the 72nd brigade, presents awards during the visit of Ruslan Martsinkiv, the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, to his unit in Provorsk district (Ukraine) on 25 November. 2022. LAURENT VAN DER STOCKT FOR “DIE WORLD”
No military experience
Rest. The recruits return to their activities. Some prepare for a mission and leave to join their positions. We share cigarettes while Ruslan Martsinkiv enjoys one last coffee before heading back to Bakhmout to visit other Ivano-Frankivsk soldiers. Since Russia began invading Ukraine ten months earlier, the city council proudly estimates that 11,000 citizens from its region have joined the Ukrainian army. Furthermore, he adds, “at this very moment, my brother is fighting on the side of Bakhmout”.
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