The following interview is part of a special report by Patrick Lancaster, who went to the Avdeevka with the legendary Pyatnashka brigade of the DPR. You can watch the full report HERE. The US journalist asked the leader of the unit on the situation on the frontlines amid the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive, true goals of Kiev’s attacks on the Crimean Bridge and commander’s personal attitude to Zelensky’s policy.
The Pyatnashka International Brigade is one of the oldest military units of the Donetsk People’s Republic, which was created in 2014. The commander of this separate tactical brigade of special purpose, subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the DPR, is Colonel Ahra Avidzba (Abkhaz).
Abkhaz: Good evening. I am Abkhaz, fighter of the DPR People’s Militia, commander of the international brigade Pyatnashka.;
Patrick Lancaster: What is the situation at the front?
A: Great. It can’t be any other way. There is a war going on, and we are fighting for our Fatherland. Always good. Stably tense, as usual.
PL: Where are you from?
A: I was born and raised in Sochi. By nationality, I am an Abkhaz, so I represent Abkhazia here.
PL: Why did you decide to come to the Donbass to fight?
A: Because I am a part of the Russian world, and the Donbass is the Russian world. That’s why we should all be here. The question is why are there others (foreigners) here who are fighting on the side of Ukraine? There is no point asking why there are Abkhazians, Georgians, Armenians, other nations of the post–Soviet space etc, because Ukraine, Belarus, Russia are one people. Three states, but one people.
PL: It was a little hot at the front today, it’s like this every day?
A: Yes. It seems hot for you, but it is stable for us. When the enemy shoots, and you respond with fire, it means that everything is fine. He is in place and we are in place too.
PL: If you had a chance to talk to Zelensky? What would you say to him?
A: What can I say to Zelensky?! Thanks for making his policies the way so that we will return our lands to the bosom of Fatherland. While he is dancing for the West, we are fighting for the Fatherland. We will take everything back. He just did that way. He did not prolong the process. He made good films, and his role in this was not bad either.
PL: Now there is a Ukrainian counteroffensive, how would you comment on it?
A: They disappointed us. We thought that they would prepare better and they would bring us more equipment, but they are burning everything before reaching our positions. It is necessary to sue them for burning all the equipment that the West handed over to us through them. They were supposed to deliver it to us. Scoundrels. Where are our trophies?
PL: There was a strike on the Crimean Bridge. Will this affect the situation at the front and what is the goal of this strike? Your opinion?
A: Zelensky had his real estate in Crimea. It seems that he does not receive passive income anymore, so he gets angry. This is not the first attack on the Crimean Bridge. The second one. The goal is to hinder the vacationers.
PL: And as for the situation at the front?
A: It won’t affect in any way. The road to Crimea will take vacationers not 3 hours but 5 hours. How do vacationers affect the situation at the front? In no way. If they think that we are supplying weapons via the Crimean Bridge, then these idiots need to learn that the land route is 500 kilometers shorter. Maybe we should show them the maps. If they did not study at school, it is not a problem. Let them surrender, we will teach them everything. In addition, we have ports.
PL: What would you tell to the Ukrainian soldiers?
A: Ukrainian soldiers should be told not to forget their roots. No tree can stand without its roots. Their grandfathers are buried under Orthodox crosses and in their native Ukrainian land, before that, in their native Ukrainian Soviet land, and before that in their native Russian Imperial land. Ukrainians, remember your history. Your grandfathers turned in their graves when staged satanic festivities in the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. How long will you have your eyes closed? You will still come to the graves, and you will see Orthodox crosses there, and what crosses will you bring there?
A: Thank you very much.
quite the scone on this fella.
nazee defense forces are collapsing along all the front line
brilliant!
very well said, indeed!
honest opinion and answers. man who speaks what he thinks, his military point of view, his feelings broken by enemy who used to be brothers. isn’t this just sad when you sum it up ?!
ten to one his parents are first cousins. his genome looks like a slinky.