“In the morning, the military went to church for a Christmas service, then they worked on the self-propelled artillery installation 2C1 “Carnation”, destroying the enemy's radar station,” the photographer says. After returning — kutya, vareniki and fur coat, funny and sad front stories at the common table to the sounds of the ruptures of air bombs.
Vyacheslav says that it still felt good and the mood was good. Commanders are only 22 years old, they led units without having time to graduate from the academy. Despite the alarming situation, they manage to rally their teams and create a good atmosphere.
“I love how these guys fight hard. Despite the fatigue, it is noticeable that they are burning with their business, and from this the ground burns under the feet of the Russians,” he stressed.
The enemy is trying to actively advance on the Kupyan direction. Heavy fighting continues there, daily shelling of the city and surrounding villages with heavy artillery.
“A strange combination of a beautiful family holiday and war in the dark snowy and cold Donbas,” describes the Christmas evening photo correspondent Serhiy Korovaynyy in the company of boys and girls of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade named after Chorny Zaporozhtsy.
Candle, kutia, Christmas tree and icon — all these attributes were able to slightly transform the dungeons, cellars and abandoned houses, where the military now live, into cozy homes.
“I understand that the boys have been fighting for a long time and during this time they have become one family. At that moment it was both noticeable and tangible. It seems to me that the power of Christmas and winter holidays lies in this unity,” Serhiy shares.
A certain magic was added to this day by the visit of the chaplain Father Ivan, to whom the two fighters presented their own hand-embroidered icon, says Valentyn Kuzan, a photojournalist of the public relations service of the 72 brigade.
Valentine first documents Christmas during the Great War of the fighters of the 72nd Brigade:
“Everyone was busy with their business, someone came, someone went away, someone had already eaten, someone sat down. However, when the chaplain came with a coutea, a prayer and a carol — everyone gathered together at the same table in an instant. Immediately it became so solemn and at the same time easy and relaxed. We joked and laughed.”
Defenders and defenders dined near the front line. They ate 12 meals to the sounds of artillery, hymars and rockets.
“Here, amid the cold and the mud, there are no holidays,” said photojournalist Konstantin Liberov, who witnessed the celebration of the birth of Christ by the soldiers of the 28th OMB named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign and the 53rd OMB named after Prince Vladimir Monomakh.
“They decorate Christmas trees, wear Christmas hats, record Christmas videos not for themselves. No matter how difficult it is for them here, they take care of us, and play Santa Claus in the midst of complete despair to give hope and celebration to us. After all, if they celebrate, we can celebrate too. But the contrast is too great,” says Konstantin Liberov, adding that all warriors dream of victory even to be at home for Christmas.
The material was created with the support of The Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation.
Read also:
Finalists of selection of the Ukrainian team for the World Photographic Cup 2024
The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vira Labych
Bildeditor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
“In the morning, the military went to church for a Christmas service, then they worked on the self-propelled artillery installation 2C1 “Carnation”, destroying the enemy's radar station,” the photographer says. After returning — kutya, vareniki and fur coat, funny and sad front stories at the common table to the sounds of the ruptures of air bombs.
Vyacheslav says that it still felt good and the mood was good. Commanders are only 22 years old, they led units without having time to graduate from the academy. Despite the alarming situation, they manage to rally their teams and create a good atmosphere.
“I love how these guys fight hard. Despite the fatigue, it is noticeable that they are burning with their business, and from this the ground burns under the feet of the Russians,” he stressed.
The enemy is trying to actively advance on the Kupyan direction. Heavy fighting continues there, daily shelling of the city and surrounding villages with heavy artillery.
“A strange combination of a beautiful family holiday and war in the dark snowy and cold Donbas,” describes the Christmas evening photo correspondent Serhiy Korovaynyy in the company of boys and girls of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade named after Chorny Zaporozhtsy.
Candle, kutia, Christmas tree and icon — all these attributes were able to slightly transform the dungeons, cellars and abandoned houses, where the military now live, into cozy homes.
“I understand that the boys have been fighting for a long time and during this time they have become one family. At that moment it was both noticeable and tangible. It seems to me that the power of Christmas and winter holidays lies in this unity,” Serhiy shares.
A certain magic was added to this day by the visit of the chaplain Father Ivan, to whom the two fighters presented their own hand-embroidered icon, says Valentyn Kuzan, a photojournalist of the public relations service of the 72 brigade.
Valentine first documents Christmas during the Great War of the fighters of the 72nd Brigade:
“Everyone was busy with their business, someone came, someone went away, someone had already eaten, someone sat down. However, when the chaplain came with a coutea, a prayer and a carol — everyone gathered together at the same table in an instant. Immediately it became so solemn and at the same time easy and relaxed. We joked and laughed.”
Defenders and defenders dined near the front line. They ate 12 meals to the sounds of artillery, hymars and rockets.
“Here, amid the cold and the mud, there are no holidays,” said photojournalist Konstantin Liberov, who witnessed the celebration of the birth of Christ by the soldiers of the 28th OMB named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign and the 53rd OMB named after Prince Vladimir Monomakh.
“They decorate Christmas trees, wear Christmas hats, record Christmas videos not for themselves. No matter how difficult it is for them here, they take care of us, and play Santa Claus in the midst of complete despair to give hope and celebration to us. After all, if they celebrate, we can celebrate too. But the contrast is too great,” says Konstantin Liberov, adding that all warriors dream of victory even to be at home for Christmas.
The material was created with the support of The Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation.
Read also:
Finalists of selection of the Ukrainian team for the World Photographic Cup 2024
The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Vira Labych
Bildeditor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
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.
.jpg)
.jpg)
