Ukraine cease-fire allows time to regroup

The cease-fire that began on September 1 between Kyiv and pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine has allowed Ukrainian soldiers to turn their attention to other tasks, such as reinforcing bunkers, checking supplies or simply occupying themselves with their thoughts.

Some front-line soldiers say light weapon fire can be heard at night, which they describe as a form of provocation. Apparently the pro-Russian separatist forces are aware that the Ukrainians have orders not to return fire.

A standard Ukrainian infantry weapon stands positioned next to body armor with a lucky charm in the colors of the Ukrainian flag. Twelve months into the conflict, all the soldiers DW encountered on front-line duty now wear body armor.

According to Ukrainian soldiers, the separatists had started to use anti-bunker weapons prior to the cease-fire. Ukrainian positions around the airport are well-fortified, which this new weapon is meant to counter. It penetrates armor only to explode on the inside. This soldier stands in a waist high anti-bunker crater.

A Ukrainian front-line soldier known as "Pitbull" observes separatists positions in Donetsk airport. He said some separatist soldiers permit themselves to walk around and scope out the airport buildings in order to make the most of the cease-fire.

A Ukrainian officer showed the remains of a Soviet wire-guided ground missile, which he said was fired at Ukrainian positions on the first day of the cease-fire. The missile rests in a crater it created. Since the incident no other missile weapons have been fired, the officer said.

A soldier prepares lunch from food provided by volunteers. "Volunteers come and help us," he said. "They bring additional food besides the army issue, we can talk with them, cook something together - have a conversation on a human level."

"You need to believe in the cease-fire," said a Ukrainian officer. "We, as soldiers, follow orders, but look at the faces of local residents here, the people who live a few kilometers from the front line, you can see it in their eyes and faces; they are tired of this war."

The front-line soldiers are aware that, while some of the local population help them, others support the separatists. "They tend to keep to themselves or blame us for the cease-fire violations," one soldier said.

One soldier had requested a guitar from one of the volunteer groups. "The guitar helps us in many ways," he said. "We get together to sing or just to relax. It keeps the spirits high in times when it's quiet."