Right Sector of Transcarpathia: “They thought we were Czech mercenaries” (+ PHOTOS)

Recently, the boys from the Transcarpathian Right Sector returned from the anti-terrorist operation zone – a partial rotation takes place. As part of the battalion "Dnipro-2", they took part in the battles near Karlivka, were on duty at checkpoints, accompanied convoys.
The spokesman for the regional association, Uzhgorod businessman Volodymyr Glasner, who also was on the front line, told how people treated the Right Sector in the East and what they had to go through on the front.
"We have two guys with concussion, one – wounded in the leg"
– How many Transcarpathians were with you in the ATO zone?
– Our soldiers (I mean the guys from the Right Sector) have always been there. But if you are asking about those, who went with me, it was a group of 13 people. We participated in the battles near Karlivka, were on duty at checkpoints, accompanied convoys. In the group, there were guys from Uzhgorod, Chop, Velyky Berezny, Vynogradiv, Khust. The oldest one was 58 years old.

We were in a real battle there. As quite a large group we entered Karlivka at dawn and at six o’clock, they began to fire at us. Militants had fortified the village very well. Our guys tried to enter it from the rear and saw very large fortifications. There were pillboxes, trenches, shelters, bunkers, lots of weapons. During one sortie, the guys managed to take rocket launchers, machine guns, small arms, grenades. Our fighter, who was carrying a grenade launcher, was wounded – so they had to leave the grenade launcher and carry him instead.
– Have Transcarpathian fighters returned without injuries?
– At least without serious ones. We have two wounded men, one with severe concussion, the other one – with mild one. 

– Did you go to the ​​ATO area by your own cars?
– Yes, three identical black SUVs with Czech license plates. And after several military operations, the enemy began spreading the information that fierce Czech mercenaries are fighting for Ukrainian troops. They do not understand our Transcarpathian dialect – so it probably sounded like Czech to them. And then there are those license plates on cars! These cars will go back to the East soon. We have prepared them well for this: armored the rear, equipped the room for machine gun in the trunk.
– Did you feel in the ​​ATO area that people were afraid of the Right Sector? Or were you not showing your affiliation to the organization?
– In the combat zone, you can not be unmarked – therefore, there were stripes on our uniform: on the one hand – the flag, on the other – the words "Right Sector." Even with those marks, several times we were under friendly fire. In such situations, we would wave, shout: "Friends." How did people treated us? Sometimes – with caution, but in general – normally. Although in places, that have not been freed yet, people treat soldiers aggressively – shout in the back: "Scum! Nazis!" and so on.

– Did you have contacts with soldiers on the front line?
– Constantly. There are frightened young boys, and there are real soldiers, ready to go to the end. I have lots of good experience getting acquainted with them. Paratroopers from Dnipropetrovsk are brave guys. Very positive experience with gunners who worked with us. When they saw that our group went to Karlivka, contrary to the order, they opened barrage. Also, contrary to the order, soldiers sent an armored personnel carrier to pick up our wounded fighters. I know that they had problem after that, but in the battle, they decided to help us.
Although, we also saw those, who were whining constantly – we have no this, no that… Such people will whine, even if they have three bulletproof vests! Our guys, after the first battle, took off vests, because they constrain movements. You can stand and lie with them, but can not move quickly. So we gave them to the guys on checkpoints. Some of them could not understand why wouldn’t we go home while we could.

– What can you say about those who fight for the militants?
– They are not alcoholics and drug addicts, as some say, but well-trained soldiers who are versed in military affairs. Of course, there is "cannon fodder" from local residents (we call them "cans"). In Karlivka, there were also the Chechens or the Ossetians – I did not try to figure out – they were always hiding behind this "cannon fodder", and joined the battle in the midst of it.