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Ukraine conflict: Helping one family search for lost soldier Ukraine conflict: Helping one family search for lost soldier
(about 1 hour later)
When I first met Black Tulip last year, I never imagined its work would become quite so personal for me.When I first met Black Tulip last year, I never imagined its work would become quite so personal for me.
The Ukrainian group is made up of volunteers who risk their lives to bring back the bodies of soldiers killed in action in the east of the country. It has found the remains of more than 600 servicemen.The Ukrainian group is made up of volunteers who risk their lives to bring back the bodies of soldiers killed in action in the east of the country. It has found the remains of more than 600 servicemen.
Back in October we were the first journalists to join the group on a recovery mission. And I will never forget it. Scenes of devastation and human tragedies made my blood run cold.Back in October we were the first journalists to join the group on a recovery mission. And I will never forget it. Scenes of devastation and human tragedies made my blood run cold.
In a trench near the town of Snizhne in Donetsk region, the volunteers found the bodies of four Ukrainian soldiers.In a trench near the town of Snizhne in Donetsk region, the volunteers found the bodies of four Ukrainian soldiers.
The smell of rotting corpses was hard to bear.The smell of rotting corpses was hard to bear.
It was dangerous work. There was the risk of unexploded shells or booby-traps. And volunteers had no protective equipment except for gloves and gas masks.It was dangerous work. There was the risk of unexploded shells or booby-traps. And volunteers had no protective equipment except for gloves and gas masks.
Killed, wounded or captured?Killed, wounded or captured?
A few days later, I had returned from the visit and was trying to forget the atrocities of the war.A few days later, I had returned from the visit and was trying to forget the atrocities of the war.
But soon after the report was broadcast on television, I got a message from a lady called Ivanna Pivovarchyk who had watched it.But soon after the report was broadcast on television, I got a message from a lady called Ivanna Pivovarchyk who had watched it.
Ivanna and her sister Iryna wanted my help.Ivanna and her sister Iryna wanted my help.
Their brother Sergey Pivovarchyk and three other soldiers went missing in action on 6 August 2014. The family had asked military authorities what had happened, but received no answer.Their brother Sergey Pivovarchyk and three other soldiers went missing in action on 6 August 2014. The family had asked military authorities what had happened, but received no answer.
"Was he killed, wounded or captured? Many relatives were demanding answers from generals. But they seemed reluctant," Ivanna told me."Was he killed, wounded or captured? Many relatives were demanding answers from generals. But they seemed reluctant," Ivanna told me.
"These were terrible months, we were searching and praying. We did not even know how to refer to Sergey in our prayers - as dead or as alive." "These were terrible months: we were searching and praying. We did not even know how to refer to Sergey in our prayers - as dead or as alive."
Not long after he disappeared, Ivanna heard from a resident of Snizhne that documents belonging to her brother had been found on a battlefield nearby.Not long after he disappeared, Ivanna heard from a resident of Snizhne that documents belonging to her brother had been found on a battlefield nearby.
She was also sent a video apparently showing four dead soldiers near a checkpoint hours after fighting.She was also sent a video apparently showing four dead soldiers near a checkpoint hours after fighting.
And then she and her sister Iryna saw our report, showing Black Tulip volunteers discovering four bodies near Snizhne.And then she and her sister Iryna saw our report, showing Black Tulip volunteers discovering four bodies near Snizhne.
They wrote to me to try to find out whether their brother was among those found.They wrote to me to try to find out whether their brother was among those found.
Barely recognisable bodiesBarely recognisable bodies
I remember watching the video and photos of him they sent me, again and again.I remember watching the video and photos of him they sent me, again and again.
I tried to compare his image to the barely-recognisable bodies we saw near Snizhne.I tried to compare his image to the barely-recognisable bodies we saw near Snizhne.
Reliving those memories was hard. But it seemed impossible to leave this desperate family without help.Reliving those memories was hard. But it seemed impossible to leave this desperate family without help.
"That is exactly what keeps us moving," says Yaroslav Zhilkin, the head of the Black Tulip group."That is exactly what keeps us moving," says Yaroslav Zhilkin, the head of the Black Tulip group.
"These soldiers died fulfilling their duty. Their relatives are waiting for them. If the government does not bring them back home for some reason, than we will do it as long as we can.""These soldiers died fulfilling their duty. Their relatives are waiting for them. If the government does not bring them back home for some reason, than we will do it as long as we can."
And so Black Tulip agreed to take on the case of Sergey Pivovarchyk and help Iryna and Ivanna find their brother.And so Black Tulip agreed to take on the case of Sergey Pivovarchyk and help Iryna and Ivanna find their brother.
'Desperate for support''Desperate for support'
The group has been managing hundreds of similar requests from families across Ukraine. Black Tulip has been managing hundreds of similar requests from families across Ukraine.
The volunteers' challenging work is funded entirely by donations. The Ukrainian army tries to help them with fuel, but that is all.The volunteers' challenging work is funded entirely by donations. The Ukrainian army tries to help them with fuel, but that is all.
"We are desperate for government support," says the group's leader, Yaroslav, who was previously a successful businessman. "We are desperate for government support," says Yaroslav Zhilkin, who was previously a successful businessman.
Before the crisis, the 43-year-old would spend his spare time helping to search for the remains of soldiers who went missing during World War One and Two. Before the crisis, the 43-year-old would spend his spare time helping to search for the remains of soldiers who went missing during World Wars One and Two.
He never imagined that experience would become so useful - now in looking for soldiers killed in the current conflict.He never imagined that experience would become so useful - now in looking for soldiers killed in the current conflict.
Over the past year Yaroslav has spent over $160,000 (£100,000; €147,000) of his own money to keep the project going and has already been forced to sell his watch to try to raise money. Over the past year Yaroslav has spent over $160,000 (£100,000; €147,000) of his own money to keep the project going. He has already been forced to sell his watch to try to raise money.
Other volunteers have also sacrificed their own time and money.Other volunteers have also sacrificed their own time and money.
But at the moment Black Tulip has debts of almost $135,000.But at the moment Black Tulip has debts of almost $135,000.
"We need proper protection equipment and funding," Yaroslav says. "Our legal status needs to be sorted out, because volunteers have started having problems at work."We need proper protection equipment and funding," Yaroslav says. "Our legal status needs to be sorted out, because volunteers have started having problems at work.
"We may have to terminate our mission.""We may have to terminate our mission."
Uncertain futureUncertain future
Ukraine's security service says more than 1,100 people are listed as missing because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.Ukraine's security service says more than 1,100 people are listed as missing because of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Black Tulip believes between 300 and 1,500 missing soldiers are still to be found. They also respond to requests from pro-Russian rebel commanders for their fighters to be returned. Black Tulip believes between 300 and 1,500 missing soldiers are still to be found. It also responds to requests from pro-Russian rebel commanders for their fighters to be returned.
Ukrainian officials have promised to support the group and allocate some funds - maybe next year. Ukrainian officials have promised support and some funds - maybe next year.
But it is becoming harder day-by-day for the group to find and identify missing soldiers. But it is becoming harder day by day for the group to find and identify missing soldiers.
'Still painful''Still painful'
At least the volunteers have been able to help Ivanna and Iryna recover the body of their brother.At least the volunteers have been able to help Ivanna and Iryna recover the body of their brother.
As it turned out, his remains were among those found by Black Tulip near Snizhne that day back in October.As it turned out, his remains were among those found by Black Tulip near Snizhne that day back in October.
"It is still very painful. But after we buried Sergey it has become easier to cope," says Ivanna."It is still very painful. But after we buried Sergey it has become easier to cope," says Ivanna.
"At least we know where he is; we can come to his tomb and talk to him."At least we know where he is; we can come to his tomb and talk to him.
"There are no words to express how grateful we are to Black Tulip for bringing our brother back."There are no words to express how grateful we are to Black Tulip for bringing our brother back.
"I hope they will be able to continue their work. Not knowing the destiny of missing soldiers is a torture for relatives.""I hope they will be able to continue their work. Not knowing the destiny of missing soldiers is a torture for relatives."