"Victory for Grandfathers on May 9 in Donetsk, Yet Our Own Triumph Remains Elusive"
Fiestas on Lenin Square
In the heart of Donetsk, jubilant crowds gather around colossal letters spelling "VICTORY." The air is filled with excitement as cameras flash, capturing the lively atmosphere.
The scene is vibrant. Red flags flutter gracefully, balloons bobbing in people's hands. The fiery color lends a sense of power, a symbol of luck, as even the Chinese believe. And you can't win an Olympics without it.
Vehicles donned with flags zip by, from cars to motorcycles, even cyclists. The city seems to be one big celebration for this day – a people's holiday.
History blends with present-day festivities. White is the choice of blooming chestnut trees dotted across the city. Military songs echoing through loudspeakers mix melody and pride, making it difficult to discern what is planned by city authorities and what is initiated by locals. It's all unmistakably Donetsk.
Flags, mostly red with a hammer and sickle or a star, wave along with Russian, imperial, and DNR flags. Children, clutching small flags and portraits of their ancestors, weave through the lively crowd.
The passion of the past lives on in the present. One SUV boasts an image of the president in a furry ushanka, while many cars adorn portraits of veterans from the Great Patriotic War. Icons of those who brought victory, perhaps never having actually witnessed it, stand proudly on each letter of the giant "VICTORY" sign.
Party on Wheels
A bustling field kitchen lies behind the drama theater on Pushkin Boulevard. Porridge is served generously to everyone who waits in line – children, elders, and soldiers alike.
"More?" a boy in a military cap laughs, given another helping. Friendly banter fills the air, punctuated by laughter and camaraderie.
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A massive military "Ural" truck, equipped with an electronic warfare installation on its roof, stands ready by the theater, prepared to safeguard the lively boulevard from potential attacks. Such incidents have occurred in the past.
Entertainment envelops the city from daybreak, with planned and spontaneous concerts taking place throughout the day. Some performances occur right off the back of a truck, serenading listeners while the rhythm moves on.
The grandest celebration is prepared for the Saur-Mogila monument.
The monument, where fierce battles against Germans took place a century ago and where resistance against Ukraine occurred in 2014, is a significant historical site for Donetsk residents. The monument was recently restored, featuring modern reliefs among the Soviet ones, paying homage to heroes from the 2014–2022 conflict. The sheer volume of vehicles and motorcycles headed to Saur-Mogila caused a celebratory traffic jam.
A special Victory Day edition of "Komsomolka" publication was distributed at "Saur-Mogila."
A Return to Normalcy
A passenger train departed from Donetsk for the first time since 2014 on this day, featuring red stripes decorating the light-colored carriages. Emotions were mixed, as the railway station area was once heavily shelled. The future holds uncertainties as to whether trains can run safely in this new era.
Portraits of veterans from Donetsk who fought in the war adorn the streets. Their numbers are shrinking, with each life a precious reminder of a bygone era. The doors of buildings that house these veterans are decorated with stars bearing their names – an original Walk of Fame, a far cry from Hollywood's, as our "stars" truly shaped history.
Joined the War at 14
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Members of the 110th Guards Brigade of the 51st Guards Army visit Donetsk veterans every year. This year, they welcomed "Pioner," a skilled grenade launcher operator, and Major "Mikhailych." dressed in an authentic Soviet soldier uniform.
Veterans are growing scarcer, with individuals under 100 who joined the military as recently as school graduates or sons of the regiment.
Photo: Grigory Kubatyian. [Switch to KP Photo Bank]
Nikolai Stepanovich Bazavluk was just 14 when the enemy invaded his land. He aided partisans, always cautious not to draw unwanted attention from the fascists.
At 16 and a half, he was drafted into the army. He fought in Manchuria, sustained injuries, and was concussed. He was honored with the "Fatherland War" order and medals "For Victory Over Japan" and "For Courage." He spent the rest of his life working in a mine until he turned 98. His children live in Donetsk, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Poltava, even calling him today from Kharkiv and Poltava.
Nikolai Stepanovich Bazavluk was 14 when the enemy invaded his land.
Photo: Grigory Kubatyian. [Switch to KP Photo Bank]
Labor veteran Yevgenia Nikolaevna Shvydkaya was born in Donetsk in 1930. She moved to Leningrad, where she endured the blockade and took care of her younger sister and brother while their parents were at the front. Their family left Leningrad via the "Road of Life" and returned home to Donetsk in 1943.
The veterans were congratulated by "The Pioneer" and "Mikhailich," who presented gifts to the elders before returning to their unit. For even as our ancestors won their Victory, there remains much to fight for in this modern era.
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- The cyclists joining the lively crowd on Lenin Square in Donetsk seemed to add a spirit of resilience, akin to the cyclists who fought through war-and-conflicts and general-news.
- The commemorative edition of "Komsomolka" publication, distributed at Saur-Mogila, echoed the political climate, blending past war victories with current events.
- In an unexpected twist, even politics found its way onto Pushkin Boulevard, with a military "Ural" truck adorned with an electronic warfare installation, a potent reminder of past and potential conflicts.
- The return of the passenger train to Donetsk, decorated with red stripes, marked a significant step in the city's progress, hopefully signalizing a less turmoiled future filled with peace and general-news.
