Interfax: “Russian veterans: Volunteers fighting for just cause in Ukraine”

MOSCOW. Sept 3 (Interfax) – Russian volunteers fighting in Ukraine have gone there by the call of their heart to help their brothers and to defend people’s right to a decent life, Russian veterans’ organizations stated.

“Russian volunteers are fighting for a just cause, they are defending their friends, the ideals of justice and freedom, the right of people to a decent life, their own language and the future they will choose themselves,” says a joint statement of the Russian Union of Afghan War Veterans, the Union of Russian Paratroopers incorporating public organizations of Airborne Forces veterans, the all-Russia public veterans’ organization Combat Brotherhood, and the all-Russia organization Officers of Russia seen by Interfax on Wednesday.

“We cannot be indifferent to this tragedy! Many comrades of ours have followed the call of their hearts and have gone to help their brothers because there is not a single family in Russia without relations, friends or comrades-in-arms in Ukraine,” the statement said.

Public resistance is mounting in eastern Ukraine to “the Maidan authorities”, which are trying to impose their rule in the country with bombs and shells, the veterans stressed. “A war has been waged on their own people. Hundreds of innocent people – elderly citizens, women and children – are dying in the bombardments,” the statement said.

“The voluntary choice of our comrades is a demonstration of their courage and true heroism, military valor and compassion! All of them know they may die. But this is their conscious choice, which exhibits their loyalty to military honor,” the veterans stated.