ERR in Luhansk: Ukraine Volunteer Soldiers Say State Not Doing Enough
The armed guards who are currently accompanying ERR radio journalist Margarita Tšernjajeva in eastern Ukraine say a large part of aid meant for them from the Ukrainian government does not reach them.
“If you just take a quick glance, it seems life goes on peacefully, but we have seen a number of blown-up houses,” Tšernjajeva.
“They [volunteer soldiers] said they were shot at from the Russian side yesterday for two hours from 14:00. It happened during the day when people are at home and at work. Soldiers of this battalion did not receive any wounds, but the next battalion suffered injuries and deaths,” she said.
She said the volunteers feel the state is not doing enough, the ceasefire is not holding and that Petro Poroshenko is just as bad as Viktor Yanukovych, the ousted president. She added that Poroshenko is waiting for election results before deciding on any actions.
Tšernjajeva said they drove to the area 12 hours in a minibus without seats, and filled with food, water and medicine for the soldiers. They past through six or seven checkpoints. “They [volunteer soldiers] are running only on donations. The state or the army does not seem to be involved. If I ask who are they fighting, then I am told that the opponent is Russian mercenaries, for whom this land does not mean anything,” she said.