DONETSK, Ukraine – A recruiting event organized by the Spartak Battalion, made up of Russians and their separatist proxies, drew several potential new fighters in the war against Ukraine. This drive is taking place despite a Feb. 15 cease-fire, suggesting that the separatists aren't planning to end the conflict anytime soon.
Arseny Pavlov, commonly known as Motorola, leads the Spartak Battalion, but was not present during the March 12 event.
Many Russians have joined the unit, although all have always claimed not to be part of the official Russian army. The
battalion is also overseeing the recovery of what is left of the Donetsk airport, where Ukrainian prisoners of war are digging out dead
bodies of their fallen comrades.
On Shevchenko
Boulevard in central Donetsk, a group of Kremlin-backed fighters from the
Sparta unit gathered in front of the monument of the famous Ukrainian
poet Taras Shevchenko. A few dozen civilian men came as well. Most are in their early 20s and claim to seek a new
purpose in life by joining a separatist unit.
“If you fight
like a woman, we won’t need you,” laughed one Russian-backed soldier, covering his
face in a balaclava, to disguise himself from the press. He
introduced himself though as Yuriy, and firmly held on to his rifle.
The small
group of well-equipped, armed men took some Sparta enthusiasts with them to the state government building in Donetsk.
“We have partly
used crowd funding to fund our equipment,” explained Andriy Radchenko, a
29-year-old ex-policeman and Russian volunteer from Astrakhan.
Radchenko wouldn’t answer whether the military supplies come from Russia.
“Seriously, I don’t know. There are more ways to get weapons that the media
keep suggesting. Money and equipment come from ordinary people that support us.
At least, that’s all that I know,” he said.
The bright
dark blue helmets, new rifles, and bulletproof vests, worn by the Sparta unit impressed some of the local men that are considering to sign up with the
battalion.
Alexey Fedina, a 29-year-old unemployed engineer, volunteered to join the fighters.
“My skills can
be needed in this battalion,” Fedina added on Artema Street,
where two tanks drove by, guided by Kremlin-backed fighters on a motorcycle
forcing pedestrians and cars to stop.
“The Sparta Battalion is happy to take any real men willing to fight and help us in this
war. I think our unit – led by’Motorola – is the most successful in Donetsk,”
another separatist soldier, Dmitriy, said. He is Serbian, but refusesd to give his name.
Some of the Spartans say they are ready to fight more.
“Joining
Sparta means choosing a new way of life. It means hard work, but in return
you receive a lot of respect,” Astrakhan native Radchenko said.
Some of the
Sparta members are women.
“Men and women are welcome
in our unit,” said 21-year-old Moscow native Tatiana, who refused to give her
last name. “You have to be tough to join our battalion. You
will learn how to be tough easily during the first few days.”
Fighters of the
Sparta unit told about their victories, including taking control
of the Donetsk airport. “We have gotten rid of those Ukrainian scum and taken
back of what was ours,” Tatiana proudly said, followed by clapping in the room.
They also bragged about the takeover of Debaltseve, claiming that the civilians were
tortured and looted by Ukrainian soldiers.
“We have liberated Debaltseve, and
gotten rid of the Ukrainian dirt there as well,” Tatiana continued. She did not mention that the city was destroyed
by shelling from both Ukrainian and Kremlin side.
But the successes are not enough for some.
“Clearly, there’s more to be done,” Fedina, the unemployed
engineer, said.
Kyiv Post contributor Stefan Huijboom is a Dutch journalist.
