War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass

In late 2013 – early 2014Kiev saw a mass insurgency.

In late 2013 – early 2014Kiev saw a mass insurgency. A surge of patriotism following the victory of Euromaidan, Crimea annexed by Russians and the war in Donbass overwhelmed Ukrainian men: many of them joined volunteer military battalions. One of such formations is the Donbas battalion. These volunteer military units enlist more and more recruits from the ordinary people. Having passed a short-term training course, they are sent to the battlefront.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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"Kalina", 19 years old, from Lvov. Before joining volunteer battalion Donbass he worked as a waiter. He says he want people look at him and say: "Yes, tho is real man". Near town of Popasnaya, Ukraine, July 18, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Maxim "Kopar", 20 years old, from Dnepropetrovsk. Severely wounded. Worked as a welder before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he is here to defend his motherland. July 18, 2014. Checkpoint near town of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 16, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Slava "Raven", 44 years old, from Popasnoe. Worked as a businessman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says when separatists came to his town, they forced him to leave his house and took his car. So he decided to fight them and joined the volunteer battalion. Popasnaya,Ukraine, July 23, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Igor "Black", 29 years old, from Radomishl. Killed in action. Worked as a businessman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says it was too hard for him just to watch what's happening on the east of Ukraine without trying to help. Outskirts of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 16, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Vitaly "Tankman", 44 years old, from Belaya Tserkov. Killed in action. Worked as a driver before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he didn't want war to come to his hometown, so he decided to join battalion "Donbass". Near Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 16, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Oleg "Mareman", 39 years old, from Berdyansk. Was captured. Worked as an electrician before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says the war touched him very hard, and every normal man must defend his homeland. Tripol'e village, Ukraine, July 21, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Sasha "Anecdote", 34 years old, from Krylovka village. Worked as a workman at a reinforced concrete plant before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he is here to defend his homeland. Near town of Popasnaya, Ukraine, July 18, 2014

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Igor "Barefoot", 31 years old, from Vinnitsa region. Worked as a copper roofer before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he remember people who died on maidan, and that great thing they did. So when the war began he realized that he couldn't stand aside, an joined volunteer battalion. Near town of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 20, 2014

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Oleg "Bandera", 19 years old, from Lvov. Worked as a barman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he is here because he understood that his help is needed, an he couldn't just stay and watch what's happening. Near town of Popasnaya, Ukraine, July 20, 2014

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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"Falcon", 32 years old, from Donetsk. Was captured. Worked as a mechanic at the service station before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he decided not to wait until enemies break door of his house, and entered the Donbas to protect his land. Near town of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 17, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Eduard "Kain", 23 years old, from Kharkov. Missed in action. Before joining volunteer battalion Donbass he worked as economical security inspector. He says that it is duty of every man to defend his country. Lisichansk, Ukraine, July 25, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Sergey "Klim", 58 years old, from Kiev. Was captured. Worked as a bus driver before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he couldn't watch how they kill young soldiers without trying to help them himself, that was the reason to participate in this war. Near Pokrovskoe village, Ukraine, July 19, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Sasha "Dwarf", 39 years old, born in Donetsk, but now lives in another city. Was captured. Worked as a businessman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says it is duty of every man to carry on war and to defend his motherland. . Near Lisichansk, Ukraine, July 23, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Yuri "Wind" (left), 24 years old, from Yuzhnoukrainsk. Worked as a barman before joining volunteer battalion Donbass and Vitaly "Aver" (right), 28 years old designer from Kiev. Was wounded. "Wind" says he is here to stop killing of civilians and to help his country. "Aver" says he couldn't just stay and watch what's happening, he needs to help, to do something not to allow separatists to come to Kiev and to go further. Near town of Popasnaya, Ukraine, July 18, 2014.

© Alexander Vasukovich - Image from the War among sunflowers. Volunteers of Donbass photography project
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Callsign "Lion", 47 years old, from Ternopol. Worked as a builder before joining volunteer battalion Donbass. He says he is here because he was tired of what's going on. Near town of Artemovsk, Ukraine, July 19, 2014

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