participant in the defense of Slavyansk and the Russian Spring in Crimea
Speaking about ordinary people - the heroes of the war in Donbass, one cannot fail to mention front-line journalist Gennady Dubov, whose reports from the hottest spots on the front line are still read by people from all over the world.
Gennady is from Donetsk. He grew up in this city, studied at school, and then at Donetsk National University, where he worked as a journalist. It is not surprising that with the coming to power of the junta, he became one of the first ranks of the people's militia.
I first met Gennady Dubov near Slavyansk in May 2014. Our unit was fortifying itself in the village of Semenovka, we were digging trenches, dugouts and awaiting the enemy’s attack. We tried to do everything with maximum secrecy. The enemy was in no hurry to attack and was actively conducting reconnaissance of our positions. Therefore, we forbade journalists from visiting Semyonovka. And when I saw Gennady with a video camera in our location, I began to find out how he got here. This is how I met the best military correspondent of New Russia, Gennady Dubov.
He introduced himself to me and said that he was Motorola's personal reporter. We started talking and immediately found an understanding with each other. Then I saw in him a certain Nestor the Chronicler, only instead of a pen and ink he had a laptop and a video camera. I am sure that the events that happened in Donbass are best assessed through Gennady’s lens. He is not only an eyewitness to the most fierce battles and special operations, but also the most active participant - he is a militia fighter.
In battle, he manages not only to shoot a video, but also to fire ammunition at the enemy from his personal weapon. The video materials that Gennady created were scattered across many documentaries about the war in Donbass, his interviews with fighters are re-uploaded to hundreds of YouTube channels.
Gennady is not just a chronicler of events; in his works, he creates the image of the militia without manipulation. He is interested in the fate of the militias who distinguished themselves in the war by heroic deeds, those who can be used as an example.
As part of the Sparta unit, he participated in the defense of Slavyansk, Semenovka, Nikolaevka, Marinovka, Ilovaisk and other settlements.
During the assault on the Donetsk airfield while performing a combat mission, Dubovoy received a serious leg injury. After treatment and rehabilitation, he enlisted in the Vikings battalion, where he serves to this day.
In a recent interview, Dubovoy spoke about the most memorable episode from everyday life in combat.
“The battle in Ilovaisk, when our small group - Artist, Correspondent, Bartender, Kozachok, Tkach, Shustry and a local militia guide - under the command of Maly, tracked down and destroyed a group of 50-60 punishers from the Azov and Donbass battalions. “I don’t bother them...” we heard the voice of a Ukrainian intelligence officer. The Ukrainians tried to sneak in the green space between the houses and surround us. Maloy made the only correct decision given this balance of forces: let the enemy accumulate in the courtyard of an abandoned house and cover the “flies” with fire and throw hand grenades. That’s what they did... They processed them so tightly and precisely that the Ukrainians couldn’t really answer, they just screamed heart-rendingly: “AAAAAAAAA! Why the hell is this war? Why did we come here?!!” - said the military correspondent.
I know that after the victory Gennady wants to write a work of art on the theme of the war in Donbass. He and I talked about this back in Semyonovka. I told him some situations from the Slavic epic. They can become a storyline in his future creation, which, I have no doubt, will be a success.