They fought in the bloody Soviet war in Afghanistan that ended 25 years ago and are now on the frontline of anti-government protests rocking Ukraine, vowing to hold out even against "tanks."
On February 15, 1989, the last Soviet soldier crossed the Friendship Bridge out of Afghanistan into the Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, marking the end of a war that lasted 10 years and saw nearly 15,000 Red Army soldiers and countless Afghans die or disappear.
Fast-forward 25 years and many of Ukraine's now middle-aged "Afghans", as the veterans are known, have joined forces with the anti-government protesters occupying Kiev's central Independence Square in a bid to oust President Viktor Yanukovych.
Day and night, dozens of vets man a barricade made of burnt vehicles and sandbags on Grushevsky Street, the scene of deadly riots at the end of January, just metres away from a line of riot police.
"The veterans of Afghanistan did not take part in the clashes. Our aim on the contrary is to avoid them," said former senior sergeant Anton Primushko, 45.
"We're here to avoid fights between the most radical protesters and riot police," the heavily-built man added.
"If the police launch an assault, we will do all we can to avoid a bloodbath on both sides," he promised, under the watchful eye of young men wearing balaclavas and armed with baseball bats, standing on a pavement still darkened by Molotov cocktails thrown in January and burnt tyres meant to keep police away.
- 'A real brotherhood' -
The ex-fighters are well respected in Ukraine.
Former boxer turned opposition leader Vitali Klitschko paid homage to them on Thursday, sitting down to watch a documentary for the 25th anniversary at a cinema in Kiev.
"The 'Afghans' form a real brotherhood, which is united by the fight for justice," said Klitschko, whose father was an officer in the Soviet Army.
"They have always been active members of civil society, as we can see today through the presence of many veterans on the Maidan (Independence Square).
"They defend their rights and the future of the country."
More than 1,000 "Afghans" have joined the anti-government protest movement, which erupted in November when Yanukovych rejected a key EU trade pact in favour of closer ties with Russia, angering pro-EU parts of the population.
The movement has since evolved into an outright drive to oust Yanukovych, and according to Igor Ivzhenko, the head of a veterans' association, thousands more can be mobilised within a half hour if the situation gets out of hand.
"The veterans are divided, as is the entire Ukrainian population," he said.
"But the majority support the Maidan movement," he added, speaking in one of the many tents scattered over the square in an anti-government enclave protected by barricades. Beside him was a map of Afghanistan and a pakol -- a round-topped hat often worn in the war-torn country.
Ivzhenko said he was still deeply affected by his experience in Afghanistan.
"We were responsible for a lot of destruction in Afghanistan, more than a million people died. I apologise for that," he said.
Igor Savitski, another "Afghan", for his part vowed to make a "barrage out of our bodies until victory", his balaclava pulled up to reveal blue eyes and a blackened face, while a knife handle protruded from his protective vest.
Yanukovych has also attempted to woo the former fighters.
"You have seen with your own eyes the devastating consequences of civil conflicts on countries and populations," he said Friday after meeting veterans.
"That's why I hope that the vast majority of former soldiers are determined to maintain the stability and peace of their own nation."
But Yanukovych's comments in no way dented Primushko's determination.
"We will be the first to evacuate the area when we win, because we are not here to get posts or money," he said.
"But in the meantime, we will stay here, even if they come to move us out with tanks."
They fought in the bloody Soviet war in Afghanistan that ended 25 years ago and are now on the frontline of anti-government protests rocking Ukraine, vowing to hold out even against “tanks.”
On February 15, 1989, the last Soviet soldier crossed the Friendship Bridge out of Afghanistan into the Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, marking the end of a war that lasted 10 years and saw nearly 15,000 Red Army soldiers and countless Afghans die or disappear.
Fast-forward 25 years and many of Ukraine’s now middle-aged “Afghans”, as the veterans are known, have joined forces with the anti-government protesters occupying Kiev’s central Independence Square in a bid to oust President Viktor Yanukovych.
Day and night, dozens of vets man a barricade made of burnt vehicles and sandbags on Grushevsky Street, the scene of deadly riots at the end of January, just metres away from a line of riot police.
“The veterans of Afghanistan did not take part in the clashes. Our aim on the contrary is to avoid them,” said former senior sergeant Anton Primushko, 45.
“We’re here to avoid fights between the most radical protesters and riot police,” the heavily-built man added.
“If the police launch an assault, we will do all we can to avoid a bloodbath on both sides,” he promised, under the watchful eye of young men wearing balaclavas and armed with baseball bats, standing on a pavement still darkened by Molotov cocktails thrown in January and burnt tyres meant to keep police away.
– ‘A real brotherhood’ –
The ex-fighters are well respected in Ukraine.
Former boxer turned opposition leader Vitali Klitschko paid homage to them on Thursday, sitting down to watch a documentary for the 25th anniversary at a cinema in Kiev.
“The ‘Afghans’ form a real brotherhood, which is united by the fight for justice,” said Klitschko, whose father was an officer in the Soviet Army.
“They have always been active members of civil society, as we can see today through the presence of many veterans on the Maidan (Independence Square).
“They defend their rights and the future of the country.”
More than 1,000 “Afghans” have joined the anti-government protest movement, which erupted in November when Yanukovych rejected a key EU trade pact in favour of closer ties with Russia, angering pro-EU parts of the population.
The movement has since evolved into an outright drive to oust Yanukovych, and according to Igor Ivzhenko, the head of a veterans’ association, thousands more can be mobilised within a half hour if the situation gets out of hand.
“The veterans are divided, as is the entire Ukrainian population,” he said.
“But the majority support the Maidan movement,” he added, speaking in one of the many tents scattered over the square in an anti-government enclave protected by barricades. Beside him was a map of Afghanistan and a pakol — a round-topped hat often worn in the war-torn country.
Ivzhenko said he was still deeply affected by his experience in Afghanistan.
“We were responsible for a lot of destruction in Afghanistan, more than a million people died. I apologise for that,” he said.
Igor Savitski, another “Afghan”, for his part vowed to make a “barrage out of our bodies until victory”, his balaclava pulled up to reveal blue eyes and a blackened face, while a knife handle protruded from his protective vest.
Yanukovych has also attempted to woo the former fighters.
“You have seen with your own eyes the devastating consequences of civil conflicts on countries and populations,” he said Friday after meeting veterans.
“That’s why I hope that the vast majority of former soldiers are determined to maintain the stability and peace of their own nation.”
But Yanukovych’s comments in no way dented Primushko’s determination.
“We will be the first to evacuate the area when we win, because we are not here to get posts or money,” he said.
“But in the meantime, we will stay here, even if they come to move us out with tanks.”
