Women Fighting for Their Country
Before fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine, Irina was a croupier in a casino who never dreamt of taking up arms. Now she is gambling with her life.
Using the nom de guerre “Gaika”, a cartoon character that translates as Gadget, she has joined an artillery unit in a pro-Russian separatist group fighting government forces.
“When your home is being destroyed, everything that is dear to you, friends, work … It’s about character. Girls who go into combat are real Russian women,” she said in an interview, explaining why she joined up.
It has proved a tough experience but she has no regrets.
“Howitzers, large vehicles, the noise is what I will remember most,” she said. “Painful memories go away. We try to focus on the positive, joyful, meeting friends. There are so many friends around now, the war is bringing people closer.”
Her unit, based outside her hometown of Donetsk, the main rebel stronghold in eastern Ukraine, is part of a rebel militia called Oplot and includes six women – herself, three medics, a fighter and a reconnaissance specialist.
“I had doubts before allowing women in,” said their commander Yesaul, a Cossack from the nearby Luhansk region.
“But now I actually have more trust in them then in men. Women don’t drink and I am sometimes seriously worried seeing my men’s condition when they are relaxing after a mission.”
