Donbass instead of Hamas: this Israeli elite soldier prefers to fight for Ukraine

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Grigory Pivovarov (42) jumps out of the filthy military transport and walks fearfully to an empty house where he and his comrades are hiding between combat missions. His look is serious, his handshake is firm.

The elite soldier, trained with Israel’s Golani Brigade, is fresh from the battlefield. But Pivovarov is not fighting Hamas in Gaza. He fights on the Ukrainian front near Bakhmut. The opponent is the same, says Pivovarov. The Russians have their fingers in everything. “But I would rather fight the Russian heart in Ukraine than the Russian hand in Israel.” This war, says the little man with the dark beard, is more important now than anything else.

In Donbass they simply call him ‘the Jew’. Pivovarov takes off his riot gear, lights a cigarette, smokes quickly and says: “I have never experienced anti-Semitism in Ukraine. This is a very, very Jewish-friendly country here.”

Combat commando during Blick interview

After the uprising of the Ukrainian people on the Maidan in 2014, Pivovarov packed his bags and left his homeland for Ukraine. He joined the infamous Aidar battalion, which has been deployed in the most difficult sectors of the front since the outbreak of war.

During the hour-long conversation, the commander gave several orders by telephone to his troops, who were fighting the oncoming Russians just a few kilometers away. “Krava, give them two. Then 20 degrees north latitude, another two!” Pivovarov apologizes for the interruption. Last night the first snow fell in Donbass. The ground is wet, the roads are broken, the fields are nothing but mud.

When Hamas attacked his homeland on October 7, he briefly thought about returning, the Aidar commander says. “But Israel is well equipped. It is clear to me: I am needed more in Ukraine than in Israel. We have to clean up here first. Then we can take care of the Russian hand in Israel.”

Zelensky’s award is of no use to him

Grigory Pivovarov laughs often, eats quickly and smokes. Someone like him has little time for fun. If so, sometimes music, sometimes a trip to relax, sometimes a game of Monopoly with your comrades. And of course the delicious food from Aidar chef Victor, who cuts potatoes in the kitchen. He never tastes before he serves, says Victor. “The Virgin Mary also conceived Jesus immaculate. Why shouldn’t I also trust God?”

Victor laughs, Grigory laughs, a brief moment of lightness in these difficult times.

‘The Jew’ recently received an award from President Volodymyr Zelensky (45) for his courage in battle. But the battle is a battle right now. The Russians hold their ground and surprise the Ukrainians with new waves of people. Ammo is running out. International support is crumbling. This would be the moment when Ukraine should be able to make full use of it. “We must cut off the snake’s head once and for all,” says Pivovarov. “It’s not enough to just scare them away a little bit.”

Motivation? Higher than ever!

He says it won’t fail because of the motivation of his men and women. “At the beginning of the Great War we just did our duty and kept them at bay. But now we want to take revenge for everything they did to us,” Pivovarov said. His expression darkens. He has seen many terrible things in recent weeks. They are brutal boys who come there.

“The world should help us stop this hell here in Ukraine. Otherwise it will soon devour you too,” he warns. Neutrality? Why, asks Pivovarov. “Don’t forget: Ukraine was also neutral until 2014. Then the country realized what kind of neighbors they are there. And soon these could be your neighbors too.”

Another chocolate stick, a look at the clock. Then Pivovarov gets up, puts his combat gear back together and disappears into the freezing cold. No one in hell can afford long breaks.

Source: Blick