politics
On Donetsk’s ‘life or death’ highway with the Khyzhak brigade
The road to Konstyantynivka in Donetsk, Ukraine, is a perilous journey for the Khyzhak brigade – a mobile unit tasked with shooting down Russian drones to cover soldiers’ rotations or moving armoured vehicles
TL;DR
- The Khyzhak brigade is a mobile unit of former police officers in Ukraine tasked with shooting down Russian drones on the H20 highway in Donetsk.
- The highway is a dangerous route, often referred to as the 'road of life' or 'road of death', scarred by drone attacks, cluster munitions, and artillery.
- Fighters like Dzhango and Young share a dugout with a dog named Zhuzha, creating a makeshift living space equipped with modern amenities like a plasma TV.
- Dzhango misses his family and son, sharing poignant moments of connection through video calls while recounting his personal history of injury and loss.
- The brigade faces constant threats from various Russian drones, with successful shoot-downs providing adrenaline rushes but also underscoring the constant danger.
- The article highlights the human element of war, with soldiers finding solace in music and companionship, and the contrast between the warzone and their distant lives.