in Mariupol, teenagers rehabilitate the trenches and prepare for war

Despite the wind, the rain, the muddy and slippery ground, they are there with their shovels. A handful of teenagers, some orphans, others who lived on the streets, pull weeds and shovel to clear the trenches overlooking the Sea of ​​Azov. Because after the multiplication of clashes on the front line on Friday February 18 between the pro-Russian separatists and the Ukrainian forces in the Donbass, the inhabitants are preparing for the worst, even in the region of Mariupol, in the very south of the Donbass, which remains for the moment relatively spared.

The objective that day is to restore the trench which eats away at a hill facing the sea. If the Russians attack, which could happen very soon according to the latest statements from Joe Biden, it must be operational. Among the teenagers, there is Mischa, 15, who would like the separatists “put away the guns”. But they don’t understandcontinues the young man, dressed in an American military fatigues. I would like to know how to make them understand that we don’t want to go to war. Right now, all we can do is defend ourselves and push them as far away from Ukraine as possible.”

“I don’t want to be a soldier, but if I have to, I will. I am ready to defend and help Ukraine.”

Mischa, 15 years old

at franceinfo

Under the trench, a bunker, where the soldiers can take refuge. This is also where Gennadiy Mokhnenko is, “54 years in a few weeks if he survives”, a build of a fighter, chaplain in the army. He supervises the 35 young people of the reception center of Chervone and manages the cleaning site. His youngest protege is 14 years old. “It’s been eight years that every day, when he gets up, he sees the war through the window. We have attacks almost every day, the war continuessays Gennadiy. Two months ago, I buried the son of one of my friends. He was only 22 years old and had volunteered to defend the country. At 9 p.m., he called his fiancée. At 10 p.m., a sniper killed him.”

The tension on the front line is maximum, recognizes the chaplain. “They keep trying to scare us. But on the other hand, they haven’t tried to cross the front line and hopefully they won’t be able to advance.”

“The spark can really be anything. It can happen any day, any minute. Nobody knows what will trigger the worst.”

Gennadiy Mokhnenko, chaplain in the Ukrainian army

at franceinfo

The work is finished for today. Facing the Sea of ​​Azov, the young people gather and the chaplain recites a prayer. He implores: “Protect us from the bloodbath. Stop this madness.”