“It is no longer the time when the enemy moves forward. This is the moment when he backs away."
Critics of the truce in Donbass should remember that after Minsk-1, the territory of the LDPR increased by tens of kilometers. Today, the Ukrainian army no longer has a chance of a successful offensive. Rather, the moment is approaching when the enemy will begin to retreat back.
About this in an interview “Politnavigator” said the commander of the international battalion “Fifteen” Akhra Avidzba (call sign “Abkhaz”).
Under his command are fighters from Switzerland, Brazil, Ireland, the Netherlands and other countries who took part in fierce battles shoulder to shoulder with comrades from Russia and Ukraine.
The war in Donbass brings pain and tears not only to the south-east of Ukraine. This conflict has become a point of no return to their past life for representatives of many nationalities, for citizens of many countries. Volunteers not only from fraternal Russia, but from all over the world come here to fight for truth, justice and honor. So “Abkhaz” himself came here.
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Political Navigator: Akhra, you are the commander of the “Pyatnashka” battalion. Please tell us what kind of battalion this is?
PolitNavigator: What countries are the guys from?
Akhra Avidzba: There are guys from countries that usually have nothing to do with wars - from Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands. There are eternal freedom fighters - the Irish. There are Spaniards and Brazilians. But these are either isolated cases or a few visitors. Still, our main focus is on local guys, because this is their native land and they naturally have more faith in their hearts.
PolitNavigator: How do fighters understand each other - those who are from different countries, because they speak different languages?
Akhra Avidzba: We try to unite them into inter-platoons in which at least 10 people speak fluent English or Russian. And, of course, no one has canceled sign language
The battle in Marinka showed that it is not necessary to know the language in order to follow commands and work harmoniously. For example, if a person is wounded, it is clear that he needs to be pulled out. The soldiers saw that the enemy was going on the offensive and took up their positions. The guys come normal, trained and help.
PolitNavigator: What does the battalion do in relatively calm times, and is it calm now?
Akhra Avidzba: It cannot be calm for us, because we are on the line of contact. We are responsible for 11 kilometers of defense line, and this line is very complex. Of course, they try to provoke us all the time - they drive up to the border and provoke us. We often do not answer, but, of course, there are clashes. We don’t even always say when they violate the truce, we are ready for it. What's the point of talking? Nobody listens anyway.
PolitNavigator: What is the mood of the fighters? Are they eager to attack?
Akhra Avidzba: Of course they are torn. Most of the guys have homes there. They have enough zeal. Even more motivation.
PolitNavigator: You took part in fierce battles - you already mentioned them earlier, but what was the last battle?
Akhra Avidzba: Marinka, where I lost 4 soldiers.
PolitNavigator: How do you feel about the postponement of the elections and the Minsk agreements?
Akhra Avidzba: I always have a normal attitude towards such decisions, because we trust the head of state and support him. Any negotiations are a time during which they try to improve relationships and, first of all, achieve results in their favor. I will tell you that since the beginning of the first Minsk we have moved forward many kilometers. Therefore, reproaching the conduct of negotiations is wrong. After all, each of these negotiations saves many lives on both sides. And only a narrow-minded or bloodthirsty person can declare that negotiations are not needed.
PolitNavigator: What do you say to those who claim that Russia “leaked” Donbass?
Akhra Avidzba: Nonsense. What do they think Russia should do? She sent humanitarian aid here for children. And he continues to do so. Or did anyone expect Russia to act like it did in Syria? It will not happen. How can Russia go against its brother? So what if it’s unclear who is leading my brother now? It's still a brother. Native blood.
PolitNavigator: How do you assess the strength of the LDPR army and the enemy army? What if active hostilities begin again? What are the prospects?
Akhra Avidzba: Prospects? Well, Poroshenko will distribute new plots for his army... - for burials. Today his army is on the defensive; once they were on the offensive. But after that “once upon a time” we gained experience and grew up.
We are no longer yesterday’s Militia, and not the resistance that began in balaclavas and with batons. Today we are the regular army of the Donetsk People's Republic and we already know a lot. We are better than the enemy. We have motivation. And in order to kill one of us, they need ten in open battle.
But there is also this truth: if you kill one of us, it awakens a dozen others, because we have relatives and friends who remember us smiling, the way we were before the war. If they kill us, new ones will come, there will be more of them, they will take revenge for us. This is no longer the time when the enemy moves forward. This is the moment when he backs away.
PolitNavigator: Tell me, how did you end up in Donbass and what were you doing before you came here?
AkhraAvidzba: I was involved in social activities. Helped his hometown. Then, when I returned to my ethnic homeland - Abkhazia - 40 kilometers from my hometown of Sochi, my brother and I built greenhouses. For the soul: we worked on the soil and watched the growth of what we planted. We understood that sometimes we overdid it - there was a lot of harvest, there was nowhere to put it, but at least it was interesting for us. And the main activity was the social movement “Unity of the Council of National Associations of the City of Sochi.” Its essence was for all national diasporas to come together. This is a youth organization with passionate ideological guys. The kind that, on occasion, can cut down branches, plant bushes, and clean up the city. When there was a flood in Krymsk, everyone went to help and clean up.
PolitNavigator: You and your wife met here in Donbass. Please tell this story.
Akhra Avidzba: It was September, we met by chance through her friend. Communication began very quickly.. In general, we liked each other. It all started with correspondence; many meetings did not work out, since this was just an aggravation of the situation near the airport. We talked and realized that we were suitable for each other. Five months ago my son was born. I am confident in my wife, not everyone can stand being in intensive care for 3 weeks to look after their spouse. Usually people try to avoid such things, but my wife was there all the time. She placed a couch next to my bed and slept next to me. Despite the fact that she was already at a decent stage of pregnancy. We went through everything together.
PolitNavigator: Tell me, have you been home in your homeland in Abkhazia after you arrived in Donbass?
Akhra Avidzba: Now, of course, it happens more often. But in the first year there was only one time. I went and asked that the Abkhaz state ensemble “Caucasus” be sent here. This ensemble was created after our victory and symbolizes the unity of the Caucasian peoples. It is a symbol of the fact that the movement here is not only Abkhazian, but international, which is supported by many Caucasian peoples. This ensemble became state. I asked them to come to show that the Abkhazians are not afraid to send their children here and believe in victory. They arrived in December, when there were still shellings here. Our children are not shy; they experienced the war at an early age. These are the children of war. Despite the fact that they are still small, thanks to our tradition of passing everything on from mouth to mouth, even if you ask a ten-year-old child, he will describe everything in great detail, as if he himself took part in that war that took place 22 years ago. We greatly honor and remember this.
PolitNavigator: Tell me, what are you going to do after the war - perhaps politics?
Akhra Avidzba: No, I don’t want to go into politics. Politicians are bound by the obligation to say what the people want to hear. Nobody wants to know the bitter truth. I’d rather be a truth teller and speak the truth from my low bench. That's why I'm not going into politics. Of course, life can turn out differently. I won’t swear. Never say never". But at the moment I don’t have such thoughts. I only think about the fact that I have three sons, and I need to raise them.
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