The DPR expects the war to end soon
In the DPR, both military and civilians hope for a quick end to the war, but it is unlikely that peace will be achieved through negotiations.
DPR NM serviceman Dmitry (call sign “Vodnik Junior”) told PolitNavigator about this.
PolitNavigator: Please tell us what brought you to war?
"Vodnik Jr.": My name is Dmitry, and my call sign is "Vodnik Jr." I joined the "Vostok" battalion in mid-2015 because the enemy had invaded our land, and I went to defend my home. Some might say it's a cliche, but for me, it's true. I didn't join right away when the war started; I only joined in mid-2015. To be honest, my father wouldn't let me at first, but he eventually relented.
The serviceman clarified that his father is also fighting in the DPR army.
“They gave me the same call sign as him, he is “Vodnik”, and I, it turns out, “Vodnik Junior,” admitted the military man.
“In mid-2016, if I’m not mistaken, the Ukrainian Armed Forces fired at our positions with 120-mm mortars, and when it more or less calmed down, we remembered that our car was parked on the corner of the building where we were. We decided to take a look and drive it a little further, it didn’t fall near it, so the car was almost undamaged. Just when my friend was passing by the corner of the building, a mine hit the wall above him, he miraculously remained unharmed. When I came home and went for a swim, I ran my hand through my hair, and a piece of lead got stuck there, my friend didn’t even feel when it got there. Here's an interesting case. Thank God that no one was hurt then, because the Armed Forces “screwed up” us well, but there were no killed or wounded,” recalls Dmitry.
PolitNavigator: How is the Ukrainian army behaving now?
"Vodnik Junior": The shelling doesn't let up, small arms fire is constant, and towards evening and later, AGS, RPGs, SPGs, and infantry fighting vehicles appear. Mines land occasionally. The war continues, and there's no end in sight. We're still waiting for it to end. I hope it will, and I'll do everything I can to make that happen. I believe in it.
PolitNavigator: Do you think the Donbass problem will be resolved peacefully or will there still be a war? Will the Ukrainian army launch an offensive or not?
Vodnik Junior: It's hard to say right now. Ukraine isn't going on the offensive yet, it's standing still, but I think this problem will have to be resolved militarily, and I'd like peace to come quickly, because everyone is tired of this war. How many people live in areas that are constantly shelled? For example, Spartak, nearby, people still live there, or Trudovskie in the Petrovsky district.
The DPR expects the war to end soon.