August 12, 2014 - Dontestk Oblast, Ukraine - New volunteers in the pro-Ukraine Batallion Donbass are taught how to assemble an AK-47. © Christopher Occhicone
August 21, 2014 - Krasnoarmiiysk, Ukraine - A volunteer in the pro-Ukrainian Battalion Donbass welds metal onto a Soviet-era armored vehicle in the hope that it will offer better protection. © Christopher Occhicone
August 22, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Outside Maidan Square, two women pose for a selfie while members of the Ukrainian armed forces and various battalions do a dress rehearsal for the Ukrainian Independence Day parade. © Christopher Occhicone
August 11, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - Ukrainian displaced persons from Donbass area of Ukraine seek sanctuary in industrial section in the outskirts of Kiev. © Christopher Occhicone
August 11, 2014 - Kurakhove, Ukraine - Soldiers from Battalion Donbass spend time in town. Their presence is accepted by locals. Despite the fact the town is deep in Donetsk Oblast, it has not been taken by separatists. Some credit the uncharacteristically high employment level, others say the local oligarch paid off separatists. © Christopher Occhicone
August 16, 2014 - Krasnoarmiisk, Ukraine - Sasha and "Raven", both drivers and mechanics with Battalion Donbass, train their wives. They are concerned that the women may have to fight after what they have seen at Illovaisk. © Christopher Occhicone
August 25, 2014 - Kiev, Ukraine - A volunteer from Donetsk who was injured while fighting with Battalion Donbass sits with his fiancée at the military hospital in Kiev. Volunteers have organized a wedding for the couple for the following week. © Christopher Occhicone
August 21, 2014 - Krasnoarmiiysk, Ukraine - "Max" test drives a Soviet-era armored vehicle which the mechanics have been working on. Once it is operating reliably it will be deployed to Illovaisk. © Christopher Occhicone
August 11, 2014 - Kurakhove, Ukraine - Donbass Battalion troop transport with "To Moscow!" written on the side. © Christopher Occhicone
August 23, 2014 - Near Luhansk, Ukraine - A volunteer with Battalion Aidar plays Soviet songs from the Afghan War for troops waiting to leave for Luhansk. © Christopher Occhicone
August 13, 2014 - Krasnoarmiisk, Ukraine - "Poltava" prepares to go on an operation to detain the mayor of a nearby town who collaborated with the separatists. © Christopher Occhicone
August 12, 2014 - Donetsk Oblast - Preparing to rendezvous with Right Sector and the army near Illovaisk. The plans were eventually called off. Many in Battalion Donbass do not trust the ability of the Ukrainian army leadership. The battalion will not participate in operations it does not feel are safe. © Christopher Occhicone
Augustt 11, 2014 - Kurakhove, Ukraine - The commander of Battalion Donbass, "Semon Semonchenko", briefs members of the Ukrainian press. Until his successful run for parliament in October 2014 he had not been seen in the media without a balaclava. © Christopher Occhicone
August 15, 2014 - Krasnoarmiisk, Ukraine - "Pastor" is a former Soviet Army sniper who became a born again Christian preacher. He joined Battalion Donbass, leaving his church and congregation in his wife's hands. Here, he has just returned from fighting near Illovaisk. © Christopher Occhicone
August 11, 2014 - Kurakhove, Ukraine - Donbass Battalion members the night before a scheduled operation near Illovaisk. "Balu" (left) waits for his wife's phone call while his friend chats with friends on Facebook. © Christopher Occhicone
August 15, 2014 - Kramotorsk, Ukraine - Pavel Kishkar, a commander with Battalion Donbass, attends a meeting of local business leaders. They are trying to develop an economic development plan once the war is over. Pavel says that the Battalion must become a political force to combat corruption. © Christopher Occhicone
August 15, 2014 - Krasnoarmiisk, Ukraine - The mayor of a local town who has been accused of collaborating with separatists is being held in a shed on the Battalion Donbass base. © Christopher Occhicone
August 16, 2014 - near Krasnoarmiisk, Ukraine - Suspected pro-Russian separatists are detained by Battalion Donbass. © Christopher Occhicone
