Nazarko is that diminutive form of my name that still can be pleasant for a 29-year-old man to hear.  That’s how I was called by Oleh and Konstantin.

Oleh, who was nicknamed Lom, always called me his personal photographer. Some of those shots that I made for him were really good and Oleh was really delighted with them.

I met Lom in 2018. At that time his division was performing some tasks in urban-type settlement Zaitseve, Donetsk region. It’s hard to forget his sincere smile and the way he laughed. Lom was a real military soldier, mariner. He had tried himself as a tank man but anyway ended up doing his favorite work. 

I enjoyed working with him. He always had something to tell and knew how to do it well. 

Konstantin started serving in our division at the beginning of the war in 2014. He had heard about Zelenopilliia and he knew what hardship the soldiers of “iron brigade” had experienced on 11 July 2014.

After mobilization he came back to his native Lviv and together with his comrades and caring people helped combatants.

I met Konstantin, whose nickname was Sezon, in 2020 when he came back to our brigade. He as well as many other experienced soldiers said that he planned to be there for six months. But this period was always prolonged for next six months again and again.

During this rotation in 2020 Konstantin’s division was performing tasks in urban-settlement Novoluhanske and his position was located in the “hostel” district (for those who know where it is). Lom and him had fun there and we felt ourselves safe in their company.

It was always interesting just to talk to Kostia. Not necessarily interviewing him, just while having a cup of coffee. He was always a calm and prudent person. He could assess the situation clearly in his division and had his personal opinion about some global issues.

Kostia as well as Oleh were respected and loved by their comrades and seniors. My colleagues – journalists enjoyed visiting them. They were real Ukrainian warriors, with no fake. They were straightforward and sincere.

That’s how people should remember them. People whose peace and victory they were fighting for.

Photo made by Aleksandr Savchenko

2020. Stated positions in “hostel” district