Ukrainian Cyborgs speak at the opening of photo exhibition on Donetsk airport

On 23 April UCMC International Media and Art Lounge hosted opening of Sergei Loikoโ€™s โ€œAirportโ€ photo exhibition narrating daily routines of Ukrainian Cyborgs at the Donetsk airport.

LA Times photographer and acclaimed war photo correspondent Loiko was present at the opening together with a dozen of Ukrainian Cyborgs โ€“ courageous airport defenders captured in his photos.

Last fall Loiko spent four days and three nights alongside the Ukrainian servicemen at the airport โ€“ theatre of one of the fiercest battles at the time. The photos report the โ€œwar routinesโ€ of servicemen ranging from the moments in which the Cyborgs are sleeping, having a smoke, gathering at the table or just standing against the ruined parts of the airport to the dramatic episodes when they collect remains of their brother-in-arms into a wooden box.

โ€œI hate wars and I hate this war that was not supposed to ever happen,โ€ said Sergei Loiko at the opening ceremony. โ€œI was brought up on the Soviet myths of heroism. At the Donetsk airport I saw true patriotism and heroism in action,โ€ the photographer said.

โ€œWould you be able to guess where I am on the photos?โ€ asks with a smile Oleksiy Matlak of the 74th Reconnaissance Battalion of Ukrainian Armed Forces. It does not take us long to spot him in one of the photos in a helmet with a rifle standing in what appears to be the new terminalโ€™s ground floor. Euromaidan activist, he signed up for military service as a volunteer. โ€œI donโ€™t want to give a single part of Ukrainian land to Russian occupants and local collaborationists. I will keep fighting regardless of whether I stay alive or not,โ€ Oleksiy says in a sincerely casual tone. โ€œDonetsk airport is an example of Ukrainian armyโ€™s strength. Russia will not be able to break Ukraine and Ukrainians,โ€ he adds.

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Mykhailo Kucherenko, soldier of the 74th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of Ukrainian Armed Forces says by the time he was sent to the airport it had already become a legend and majority of servicemen felt it was crucial to be there. However โ€œfirst of all we had to win the battle not for the territory but for the hearts and minds,โ€ he adds.

Sergey Arkhangelsky, Head of the medical service of the 2nd battalion within the 95th Airborne Brigade said the time he spent at the Donetsk airport โ€“ 25 days in total, were the best days of his life. โ€œWhen you get childrenโ€™s drawings it gives you hope and adds to your courage, because you know youโ€™re not alone and we felt it back at the airport. We knew Ukraine stands behind us.โ€ He also called to not forget those who were not back from the battle.

Sergei Loikoโ€™s โ€œAirportโ€ exhibition is on till 4 May at the UCMC International Media and Art Lounge at Ukrainian House (2 Khreshatyk). The photos are also available for purchase within the โ€œsilent auctionโ€ initiative. All money raised is to be directed to help wounded servicemen.

EMPR

 

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