NOVOAZOVSK, Ukraine – Vladimir remembers the day last summer when the Russian army entered Novoazovsk. The 73-year-old retiree, who fears reprisals if his full name is published, is playing chess on a bench by the Azov Sea. "We won't let war destroy of playing chess," he says.
Russian soldiers or their separatist allies guard a checkpoint on the Ukrainian-Russian border in Novoazovsk on Feb. 24. Foreign ministers from Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France called on Feb. 24 for a total ceasefire in eastern Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out the “apocalyptic scenario” of all-out war. AFP PHOTO/ ANDREY BORODULIN
Pointing his finger in the direction of Russian, he says: “They came from there.” Pro-Russian sentiment has always been high in this city, where the Russian border is less than 20 kilometers away.
When the Ukrainian army controlled the city with a pre-war population of 11,000 people, there was little or no fighting. But now residents expect the war to flare up again from here.
“It is no secret that the Russian army is here. My wife runs a small shop and some men only wanted to pay in rubles. They are Russian! They have broken the silence that we once had!” Vladimir said, as his three chess partners agreed in unison.
“We’d like them to leave. It’s not their country,” he says. “I’ve lived most of my life in the Soviet Union. I consider myself Ukrainian, but I prefer to live in Russia, yes. You know why? Because my wife is from Russia. My two sons live in Russia. My entire family lives in Russia. Does this mean I support the war in Ukraine? No! The Russians should not fight in Ukraine. It’s meaningless.”
Just as he finishes his sentence, loud outgoing artillery fire is heard. “As an old man I’m glad I have some hearing problems,” he jokes.
The once peaceful resort city is now a major military hub the Russian army and their separatist allies. At the moment, they appear to be preparing for another offensive on the Ukrainian-held port city of Mariupol, some 50 kilometers to the west, and its 500,000 residents.
Just outside Novoazovsk, the Kyiv Post spotted a military convoy heading from east to west, presumably coming from Russia. At the first checkpoint, Kremlin-backed separatists forced the Kyiv Post to delete pictures and video. No further movement towards the Russian border was allowed. One pro-Russian separatist fighter called Ruslan controls the checkpoint.
“It is forbidden for journalists to go that way,” he explained. “There are things over there that you shouldn’t see.” To emphasize the point, he aimed his rifle and shouted for this journalist to leave as soon as possible.
It is widely believed in Novoazovsk that the heavy Russian army presence can only mean one thing: More attacks on Ukrainian soldier positions. The Russian army was first seen in Novoazovsk in August, pushing Ukrainian soldiers outside of Mariupol, despite the official denials of the Kremlin. Novoazovsk has since then been firmly under separatist control.
Despite the presence of the Russian army, Ukrainian forces around Mariupol have received orders to not to return fire in accordance with the Feb. 15 cease-fire agreement reached in Minsk, Belarus. The question is how long the relative silence will last and how long old men will still be able to play chess by the seaside without the interruption and killing of war.
Stefan Huijboom is a freelance Dutch journalist.
