On the morning of January 31, 2017, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repulsed the stronghold of the militants “Almaz-2” in Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region. The position was strategically important in the overall defense system of the country, as it allowed to control the roads Donetsk-Luhansk and Donetsk-Horlivka.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes photos of photojournalist Oleksandr Klymenko, who documented the situation at the position of “Almaz-2” occupied by Ukrainian forces in Avdiyivka.
Since 2014, for every conquered meter of Ukrainian land, it was necessary to pay in blood. In April, separatists proclaimed the so-called Donetsk People's Republic in Avdiivka. However, in a few months, in July, a strong yellow veil again loomed in the city: the Armed Forces returned the city to Ukrainian control. In the future, between 2014 and 2015, almost no active fighting took place in the Avdiyivka area. There was a relatively calm situation. The reason was that the enemy sent almost all of its forces to the fighting for Debaltseve and in the area of Donetsk airport. In February 2016, militants attempted to take Avdiyivka and push the demarcation line. Ukrainian troops not only repelled the enemy, but were able to push him back. January 2017 was remembered for heavy fighting. After a prolonged, seemingly calm situation at the front, the whole of Ukraine learned about the Avdiyev “industrial zone” and the stronghold “Diamond-2", as well as the names of the fighters of the 72nd OMB named after. Black Zaporozhts, about whom Ukrainian and international media wrote. Under the onslaught of Ukrainian troops, the terrorists were forced to retreat, but quickly recovered and began to conduct artillery fire in order to regain these positions.
At the end of January 2017, the fighters of the 72nd OMB named after Cherny Zaporozhtsy held the position of “Diamond-2" for a week under the fierce fire of the enemy.
Andriy Verkhozhda, together with Andriy Kyzyl and his brothers courageously repelled the enemy's attacks before the approach of the main forces. The fiercest fighting between Ukrainian fighters and terrorist groups lasted several days — from January 29 to February 6, 2017. After the stronghold was captured by the Ukrainian army, it was renamed in honor of the deceased Andrei Kyzyl. He was deputy commander of the 1st battalion of the 72nd OMB, whose fighters stormed the position. Then it was called “Eagle”, it was such a callsign for 23-year-old Combatant Andrei Kyzyl.
In the fighting on January 29-30 for the position “Diamond-2" were killed: Deputy Battalion Commander Captain Andriy Kyzilo, Soldier Dmitry Overchenko, Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Balchenko, Sergeant Volodymyr Kryzhansky, Soldiers Oleg Burets, Vitaliy Shashay Yaroslav Pavlyuk and Yaroslav. During the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on June 23, 2022, at the age of 27, Major Andriy Verkhozhda died in battle.
Then, in January 2017, the losses of pro-Russian militants from the 1st Battalion of the 100th Brigade of the DPR were estimated at nine killed and about thirty wounded.
Each enemy height, stronghold or checkpoint is not only a springboard for further offensives, but first of all an opportunity to push the occupying forces further to the East and thereby reduce the intensity of shelling of front-line cities.
Photojournalist Oleksandr Klymenko recalls that the news about the captured positions in Avdiivka from the militants then caused him pleasant emotions, because for several years the Ukrainian forces did not advance. “The troops stood and stood. No one moved anywhere, so here we managed to get the stronghold “Diamond”, — recalls Klimenko.
He remembers the stories of servicemen who fought for the “Diamond” with the enemy. “The guys said it was really hard. It was very difficult to fight with militants and repulse those positions. They talked about how they moved through the aisles. It was a grueling battle.”
The Armed Forces of Ukraine defended Avdiyivka, in particular the industrial zone and “Diamonds” until 2023. February 17 Ukrainian troops came out from Avdiivka to avoid the surroundings. The defense forces moved to more favorable frontiers.
Recall that the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers has started a series of materials dedicated to key events of the Russian war against Ukraine, where he publishes memoirs and photographs of Ukrainian documentary photographers.
Life as a Deadline: 10 Years of War in the Photos of Alexander Klymenko
Oleksandr Klymenko was born in Chernihiv region. Graduate of the Faculty of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. From 1991 to 2024 — photocorrespondent of the newspaper “Voice of Ukraine”. In 1992, he documented events in Transnistria, then in the former Yugoslavia, as well as Lebanon, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the Revolution of Dignity, being in the very epicenter of events, Alexander was wounded. Since the beginning of the Russian military aggression in 2014 in the East, he has been filming events at the front. Oleksandr is the author of several photo albums, including: “Ukraine. 10 years of progress” (2001), “Peacekeeping activities of the Ukrainian army. The First Decade” (2004), “Through Fire and Tears” (2009), “Front Album” (2016). “The latest history of Ukrainian journalism. From Maidan to Maidan” co-authored with Yuriy Nesteryak, Julia Nesteryak (2022). Had personal photo exhibitions at UN Headquarters in New York (2012), NATO Headquarters in Brussels (2012, 2013, 2014), Lithuania (2015), Poland (2015, 2016, 2023), Luxembourg (2015), Norway (2023), Latvia (2022), participated in collective exhibitions on the war in Ukraine in the parliaments of Great Britain (2015) and Denmark (2014).
On the morning of January 31, 2017, the Armed Forces of Ukraine repulsed the stronghold of the militants “Almaz-2” in Avdiyivka in the Donetsk region. The position was strategically important in the overall defense system of the country, as it allowed to control the roads Donetsk-Luhansk and Donetsk-Horlivka.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes photos of photojournalist Oleksandr Klymenko, who documented the situation at the position of “Almaz-2” occupied by Ukrainian forces in Avdiyivka.
Since 2014, for every conquered meter of Ukrainian land, it was necessary to pay in blood. In April, separatists proclaimed the so-called Donetsk People's Republic in Avdiivka. However, in a few months, in July, a strong yellow veil again loomed in the city: the Armed Forces returned the city to Ukrainian control. In the future, between 2014 and 2015, almost no active fighting took place in the Avdiyivka area. There was a relatively calm situation. The reason was that the enemy sent almost all of its forces to the fighting for Debaltseve and in the area of Donetsk airport. In February 2016, militants attempted to take Avdiyivka and push the demarcation line. Ukrainian troops not only repelled the enemy, but were able to push him back. January 2017 was remembered for heavy fighting. After a prolonged, seemingly calm situation at the front, the whole of Ukraine learned about the Avdiyev “industrial zone” and the stronghold “Diamond-2", as well as the names of the fighters of the 72nd OMB named after. Black Zaporozhts, about whom Ukrainian and international media wrote. Under the onslaught of Ukrainian troops, the terrorists were forced to retreat, but quickly recovered and began to conduct artillery fire in order to regain these positions.
At the end of January 2017, the fighters of the 72nd OMB named after Cherny Zaporozhtsy held the position of “Diamond-2" for a week under the fierce fire of the enemy.
Andriy Verkhozhda, together with Andriy Kyzyl and his brothers courageously repelled the enemy's attacks before the approach of the main forces. The fiercest fighting between Ukrainian fighters and terrorist groups lasted several days — from January 29 to February 6, 2017. After the stronghold was captured by the Ukrainian army, it was renamed in honor of the deceased Andrei Kyzyl. He was deputy commander of the 1st battalion of the 72nd OMB, whose fighters stormed the position. Then it was called “Eagle”, it was such a callsign for 23-year-old Combatant Andrei Kyzyl.
In the fighting on January 29-30 for the position “Diamond-2" were killed: Deputy Battalion Commander Captain Andriy Kyzilo, Soldier Dmitry Overchenko, Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Balchenko, Sergeant Volodymyr Kryzhansky, Soldiers Oleg Burets, Vitaliy Shashay Yaroslav Pavlyuk and Yaroslav. During the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on June 23, 2022, at the age of 27, Major Andriy Verkhozhda died in battle.
Then, in January 2017, the losses of pro-Russian militants from the 1st Battalion of the 100th Brigade of the DPR were estimated at nine killed and about thirty wounded.
Each enemy height, stronghold or checkpoint is not only a springboard for further offensives, but first of all an opportunity to push the occupying forces further to the East and thereby reduce the intensity of shelling of front-line cities.
Photojournalist Oleksandr Klymenko recalls that the news about the captured positions in Avdiivka from the militants then caused him pleasant emotions, because for several years the Ukrainian forces did not advance. “The troops stood and stood. No one moved anywhere, so here we managed to get the stronghold “Diamond”, — recalls Klimenko.
He remembers the stories of servicemen who fought for the “Diamond” with the enemy. “The guys said it was really hard. It was very difficult to fight with militants and repulse those positions. They talked about how they moved through the aisles. It was a grueling battle.”
The Armed Forces of Ukraine defended Avdiyivka, in particular the industrial zone and “Diamonds” until 2023. February 17 Ukrainian troops came out from Avdiivka to avoid the surroundings. The defense forces moved to more favorable frontiers.
Recall that the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers has started a series of materials dedicated to key events of the Russian war against Ukraine, where he publishes memoirs and photographs of Ukrainian documentary photographers.
Life as a Deadline: 10 Years of War in the Photos of Alexander Klymenko
Oleksandr Klymenko was born in Chernihiv region. Graduate of the Faculty of Journalism of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. From 1991 to 2024 — photocorrespondent of the newspaper “Voice of Ukraine”. In 1992, he documented events in Transnistria, then in the former Yugoslavia, as well as Lebanon, Kuwait, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. During the Revolution of Dignity, being in the very epicenter of events, Alexander was wounded. Since the beginning of the Russian military aggression in 2014 in the East, he has been filming events at the front. Oleksandr is the author of several photo albums, including: “Ukraine. 10 years of progress” (2001), “Peacekeeping activities of the Ukrainian army. The First Decade” (2004), “Through Fire and Tears” (2009), “Front Album” (2016). “The latest history of Ukrainian journalism. From Maidan to Maidan” co-authored with Yuriy Nesteryak, Julia Nesteryak (2022). Had personal photo exhibitions at UN Headquarters in New York (2012), NATO Headquarters in Brussels (2012, 2013, 2014), Lithuania (2015), Poland (2015, 2016, 2023), Luxembourg (2015), Norway (2023), Latvia (2022), participated in collective exhibitions on the war in Ukraine in the parliaments of Great Britain (2015) and Denmark (2014).
UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.
UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.
UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.
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