Edward Kulinich. A volunteer from Kramatorsk. 49. Before the war he was an entrepreneur, had a business in the field of power engineering. Volunteered on the same day in Kramatorsk came in the 25th brigade.

About this on his page in Facebook wrote the Cyborgs-2015 - art project about the heroes of our time.

It was on April 24-25, 2014. Primarily the soldiers needed water, medicine, the guys collapsed shoes, they had uniforms, cigarettes. "They brought all the trails, devious means, î says Edward. -- Had to pass by the separatists. To know if you will fall, I will be shot".

In July, when liberated Kramatorsk and there was heavy fighting, Edward took out the wounded and the dead. On 4 August he was taken prisoner, when carrying a cargo in the second battalion of the 25th brigade, -- ran into an ambush near the village of petropavlivka (a Mining area). Edward spent in captivity in the city Snow Donetsk region of the 22 day along with fellow volunteer Sergey Ganovim , teacher Donbass machine-building Academy. The captives were thrown in the basement Snezhnoye military enlistment office, where were located the headquarters of the militants.

"In the basement we were kept in compartments the size of two-and-a-half to four-and-a-half meters . In each bag of concrete is from 8 to 14 people. Were sleeping side by side on the floor who: Sergey, for example, at the stand of the propaganda of the military. The first day we got beaten, and then offered to shoot each other. But got here the "militia" and local, even sympathetic "DNR", it was even worse. Caught in hideous conditions, many of them began to see, began to understand that they are treated as "expendable". Say, you a role in "the picture" for the Russian television has already played: the audience is convinced that in Ukraine civil war erupted. And now it's time to replace you Russian professional military that no one will be spared.

Guilty of local residents were taken to dig trenches, cooler-"rebels" were forced to wash the floors, clean the kitchen. In this case it came from Russia "violators of discipline" were very tolerant. For example, the military"man", driving a Ural, injured four of his colleagues, sat in prison just three days, after which he was transferred to his command and, most likely, sent home to Russia. And there he is unlikely to appear before the court, because, according to Russian propaganda, "the Russian military in Ukraine".

We were among the first civilians who are exchanged as prisoners of war . Us fighters gave for the son of one of the "eminent" of the separatists in Snizhne. Everything was already agreed, but we kept in captivity for three weeks."

All the men who were in the chamber, exchanged phone numbers of their relatives knew by heart. The rooms have put on the battery... mobile phone, and this "notebook" Edward Kulinich all the days of captivity were hiding in the collar of my shirt. Agreed, in the event of a release to let people know relatives of inmates.

In the same cell with me were mobilized from the 30th brigade, the militia that were in favor, the real criminals who killed someone. Had to live with. We talked about his children, who have been rested. You know, when everyone is taking a piss in a bottle, and more – in one jar, it has a lot in common".

No matter what Edward continues to help the army, in particular the 25th brigade, in the same way as before the captivity. Works with well-known volunteer organizations.

"The situation now varies better, but still dangerous. Volunteers are encrypted themselves were not widely advertised. I don't care, still you can not hide, I already know "lists" are, I have on the machine symbols. Managed to gather around him cares.

Around Kramatorsk military unit. People driven into the ground, the excavator dug a hole, then you need something to block that tape for waterproofing to be laid, the walls are close, something put on the floor. What? Say: "call to volunteers". Imported water, the faces of the guys smoked, drink is not always enough, not that that is a wash. Very people need. Here we supply them. From pallets and firewood, logs to cut, foil, personal hygiene items, to products. People are still people, they want to eat. The state provides, but, for example, the battalion laid in a day 450 kg of potatoes, and give 150".

But now a new problem appeared. Our fighters were forced to sign an undertaking that they will not open fire towards the enemy.

"Our countryman the Kramatorsk citizen under investigation, goes to the interrogations. A normal person, was Yugoslavia, is fighting from the very first day. It was shot - he replied. Was removed from the Zenith (it is 800 metres from Donetsk airport) and he is testifying. Facing up to 3 years. About to organize a rally at the military Prosecutor's office of Kramatorsk".

In General, life goes on, no time to get bored.

July 5, 2015 in his native Kramatorsk Edward Kulinich was awarded the order of "national hero of Ukraine".

PS

"That's my wife. Thank you very much! Wonderful photo.

We've lived under occupation! Stories weight! As transmission Guards and even trucks with food locked in the airport had been moved, and on foot, through the fields the drugs wore.

As the wounded boys were taken by separ columns which went from Slavyansk in Donetsk.

G. Tuck forwarded parcels in Barvinkove, Kharkiv oblast Eduard went there with a backpack, some shifted to him and drove through the roadblocks, and the part was sent the parcel, not from Kiev.

As military guys slept under armour on the bare ground, all colds, pneumonia, and medicines - only Zelenka. And we even buy the medicines were dangerous, wrote down numbers of cars. Well as the cost.

And the 5th checkpoint Slavyansk-Kramatorsk is a separate story. As the Guys from company A. Tkachuk held out there behind enemy lines - God only knows. Dug pits, put the oilcloth, and so collected water, since the summer was rainy. Told me that even the asphalt was licking. We have real chalk mountains, through them, by secret paths, we drove there all the way down to the water.

I have suffered with it! As we were all bargained our separov is also a separate issue. Thanks for the attention to his person and for the great photos!

And I would like to mention the names of the friends who were near: Fedorchenko Yury, Sirkowski Yury Rusin Andrew. They always were a team, but in captivity with him was not hit, Thank God!".

photo by Roman Nikolayev

Source: «Кіборги - 2015» / Cyborgs - 2015

МБФ "СЛАВА УКРАЇНІ" / ICF "GLORY TO UKRAINE" / FIB "GLOIRE À L'UKRAINE"