They hold the checkpoints and are clearly visible in the cities: after the regular army, the civilians of the Ukrainian Territorial Defense Force are the last bastion against the Russians.
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The cheerful twenties, “Buffalo” measures 2.07 m for a hundred kilos.
From the start of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, he left his job in the construction industry and joined this force, equivalent to a military reserve.
Like hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, he answered the call of President Volodymyr Zelensky who had decreed general mobilization.
“Buffalo”, by its code name, was assigned to the Sviatogirsk sector, a village about thirty km north of Kramtorsk, the capital of Donbass, in eastern Ukraine.
The front lines are about ten km to the north and northwest, particularly around the town of Izioum, where the battle is raging.
Izium is the main lock that opens the main road to Kramatorsk.
From there rises each day the heavy noise of intense bombardments.
“I’m sure you can hear the artillery and how our villages are disappearing from the face of the earth,” “Buffalo” told AFP, in camouflage fatigues and showing only his eyes under a balaclava. .
He proudly shows a video on his mobile phone where he is seen in the snow, Kalashnikov in hand, in combat position with his comrades.
But its mission is also to protect and help the inhabitants.
“Civilians have learned what war is. They stay in the basements and it’s the least they can do to save their lives. Whenever we can, we bring them food and water. There are a lot of old people who have nowhere to go,” he says.
There are still many of them in the village of Sviatogir, which had around 5,000 inhabitants before the war and is famous in particular for its Orthodox monastery of the “Holy Mountain”.
Behind the counter of his small café-restaurant, Andriy is busy. Residents, soldiers or members of the Defense Force parade to take away a hot dog, a hamburger or a hot drink.
“Some people left and others stayed. The people are here. Everyone is walking around, they are shopping, they have to eat one way or another,” says the shopkeeper.
Kalashnikov slung over his shoulder, dressed in a curved fatigues, khaki cap on his head, Andriy, 35, believes that territorial defense “is a very important bridge with civilians, it is made up of civilians. I think it’s unique.”
“We have people of different ages and different backgrounds who all came together because they had one goal. Teachers, engineers, workers, artists, it is extremely important”, judges the young man, civil servant.
“We will hold on until the last breath,” he said.
Many bridges in the region have been destroyed by the Ukrainians to slow down an advance by Russian forces, while a massive offensive by Moscow is announced on this region of Donbass.
The one in Sviatogirsk is still standing, even though mines are ready to blow it up.
Previously guarded by the territorial force, it is now soldiers who watch over the building.
“The bridge is both under the protection of the Ukrainian armed forces and territorial defense,” said Volodymyr Rybalkin, a civilian journalist and head of territorial defense in the locality.
“Above us are professional military commanders, who coordinate. Our task is to communicate with the civilians so that there is understanding and support between the two,” he explains.
Asked about the announced offensive of the Russians, the man wants to be confident.
“The front line is less than 10 km away. Artillery works at full power and pushes the enemy away. I can’t predict what will happen tomorrow. Today the planes (Russian) did not fly, it is not known whether tomorrow they will be back. We will react to all their actions,” he said.
Behind him, “Buffalo” begins a chorus addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, treated with a bird’s name.
“Glory to Ukraine!”, he concludes in a loud voice.
“Glory to the heroes”, answer his comrades in heart.