A message for Nottingham from the Donbas in eastern Ukraine
An official photographer from a Ukrainian Assault Battalion reminds us of what is happening on the frontlines.
At the rally this weekend, protesters heard audio from Saphryn Shikaze, a photographer serving with the 49th Separate Assault Battalion, known in Ukrainian as Karpatska Sich. His message gives an insight into the situation many Ukrainians fighters find themselves in.
The full message, which contains sounds of in-bound missiles and explosions, can be heard here.
Donbas is an actively fought-over territory on the front lines of the Russian invasion into Ukraine. Saphryn tells of how at the start of the invasion, military deployments often lasted four to five days, but are now often extended to 40 days.
He went on to say that deployments "sometimes reach up to as long as three months - that's 90 days. Seasons, entire seasons can change, essentially, whilst some of these soldiers are out on positions," his message says. "That's 90 days of brutally cold conditions, under constant fire, constantly being hunted, and worrying about whether or not the next vampire drone from your team can reach your positions to drop you supplies, weapons, bullets, even water."
Saphryn embedded with the Battalion in 2022 as a civilian photographer to follow the story of a Japanese soldier who had joined them. He also spent two months during the Kharkiv offensive. After accompanying the unit in other operations, he were invited to join as official photographer in winter 2023, and have served in that role since January 2024.
In summer 2024, Saphryn was wounded by a tank, leaving them out of service for three months, but he has not left the Battalion despite everything.
His work can be found on Instagram: saphryn.
Saphryn finished his address to the crowd in Nottingham with a hope for continued support.
"I want everyone listening to this message to fully understand that your participation in today's gathering means the world to us. Without volunteers and supporters like you, Ukraine would not still be standing. But so long as Ukraine is standing, and so long as Ukraine is fighting, we ask that you continue to support Ukraine, you continue to fight for Ukraine, and you continue to remember Ukraine."
