They Were Not Soldiers

This curated project shares photographs and personal perspectives from the Ukrainian front lines, focusing on the lived experiences of those often reduced to a single label. Through their own images, it explores how fathers, daughters, and ordinary people cope, survive, and hold onto humanity in extraordinary circumstances.

A Ukrainian Commander Discusses Weaponry

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This is a video review of a 1990 AK-74 Kalashnikov assault rifle – in two parts. Submitted by Commander Serhii Kashyrin, Gimli Division

“Regarding this weapon: this is a russian machine gun.


It was in service with the Soviet Union and in all the countries that were part of the Soviet Union. But this particular one was personally taken by me from the battlefield. In other words, it is an enemy machine gun.


It is called a PKM — the Kalashnikov Modernized Machine Gun, in russian. It has a 7.62 caliber, and it uses a belt with 100 rounds.


The weapon is heavy, but it fires very accurately and tightly. It is one of the best machine guns that the Soviet Union produced. It provides very good suppressive fire — it fires very well and very consistently.


And, of course, there is also the fact that it was captured from the enemy. I carried it out from the battlefield and, let’s say, brought it here for myself as a kind of trophy.
I repaired it, improved it, installed a proper optical sight on it, and made some small upgrades. It’s a really cool weapon. I like it.”

Commander Gimli Kashyrin