“Suddenly - two explosions and black smoke. We didn’t have time to get scared"

Early check out. It's raining. Bus. Half-asleep journalists. On the road we are overtaken by many cars with the flags of the DPR and Russia. Everyone goes to Saur Mogila. We're approaching. Last turn. I'm getting ready to go out. In front of our bus I see a blue car of a journalist I know. Suddenly - two explosions and black smoke. Maximum one hundred meters from our bus.

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Everyone cheered up. There was no time to get scared. I watch with curiosity as the smoke dissipates and the blue car backs up. The explosion was about thirty meters from her. I dial the driver’s number - everyone there is also alive and did not have time to get scared. The transport is turned around and we are going on a detour. Another half hour to go.

We're coming. There are a lot of people, just like last year. There are field kitchens along the road to the foot of the monument. The menu is simple, but very tasty: buckwheat with stew, kulesh, pilaf, tea. And it all smells so delicious!!!

There is a concert going on at the foot. In the first row are the guests of honor – veterans. The kids are trying their best! Songs of the war years.

Here, at the foot, is the cemetery of 2014. Those who defended the approaches to Saur Mogila are buried here. Those who fell defending the Saur Grave itself are buried on the summit.

Donetsk residents with flowers. They simply walk between the mounds and lay out flowers. Many hills without names. Some have three names with dates on them.

Old man. He has an armful of white daffodils in a cut-off plastic water bottle. It is obvious that he was transporting it from afar, he was afraid that it would wither. I came to meet you. The man's name is Mikhail. He is 66 years old. He lived all his life in Torez. He has been fighting since the first days. Saur Mogila, then direction Debaltsevo. I ask if he knew these dead guys?

- Yes, we are all from the same barracks. I remember everyone by sight.

– On some graves there are not only photographs, but no names.

- What time was it, do you remember? Then oh! So many nameless people died here. They didn't know each other. And if they knew, it was by their call sign.

– What day do you remember from the war?

– Every day of the fourteenth I remember. If you remember, all the days here are memorable. The most memorable one was when Saur Mogila began to be liberated. When we drove them away from here. It was the most memorable, happiest day. From here it has already started - Amvrosivka, Ilovaisk, Debaltsevo.

***

– Do you want to wish our children something?

- So that there is no war. Now we will finish off this evil spirits, and you take care of the world. You see how fragile he turned out to be.

***

Saur Mogila is a twice conquered strategic height. During the Great Patriotic War, fierce battles took place here. Seventy years later, the earth remained stuffed with fragments and shell casings. In Soviet times, I was accepted here as a pioneer. Then the locals came. After tying ties on the way to the bus, one of the locals asked him for a ride. We walked and he told us what was happening here. Then he simply touched the ground with the toe of his boot, bent down and picked up the fragment:

“Here,” he said, “and there’s plenty of such “good” here.”

This fragment is still kept in my home.

Now the collection has been supplemented with modern exhibits. To be honest, looking at how children are rushing along the slopes, I can’t believe it, the militia say. If it were not for the bas-reliefs mutilated by shells, which every time confirm the rightness of the storytellers.

***

Overheard conversations:

“I’m lucky, mine came back alive.” But how I begged the Lord for him to live! (from a dialogue between middle-aged women laying flowers on graves).

***

-Who are these grandfathers?

- These are very good grandfathers. Without them you would not have been born. And I probably would not have been born. Let's go give them flowers. We picked it for them. (father and daughter, she is four years old)

***

– And in Ukraine they say that today is a day of remembrance and reconciliation

- No. Today is Victory Day.

– Is it bad to remember and put up with it?

- No. Not bad. If you win, if you surrender, then you can make peace. But anyway, this is called Victory correctly.

(teenagers, 12-13 years old. Girls, performed a number and are talking near the stage)

***

During the concert it started pouring rain. But the children continued to perform, and the veterans continued to watch. Umbrellas were carefully held over them. And, although the event was delayed due to the terrorist attack, the veterans steadfastly waited for both the solemn prayer service and the speech of the head.

I also took pride in the honor guard. Military school cadets in white, pressed uniforms. Unlike everyone else, they could neither hide under the trees nor open an umbrella. So they stood bravely in the pouring rain. And the commander also stood nearby and, just as steadfastly as his charges, got wet in the downpour.

The whole holiday, while I was walking, talking, listening, watching - emotions were overflowing. Sometimes goosebumps, sometimes tears, sometimes a lump in the throat, sometimes pride.

These days there is some special pride. Bursting, or something. And somehow you understand in a special way how lucky I am to be born in Donbass!