audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - In the now abandoned industrial outskirts of Avdiivka, Ukraine, the 74th battalion of the Ukrainian army maintains several small positions within 100 meters of those held by separatists troops of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). Despite the conditions of the Minsk ceasefire agreement, separatists continue to shell the area. An unpaid volunteer unit belonging to Right Sector maintain one of the positions and fights alongside the regular army. It is made up of tight knit group who have fought together in nearly every major battle of the war and have yet to suffer a casualty. Despite the hardships, the group has made a decision to remain independent and unpaid, and they routinely choose to man the most dangerous positions. Their position has also become a social hub on the front line. They have a reputation for doing their jobs with a smile and for having some of the best food on the front. As the political situation in Ukraine continues to change, the Right Sector volunteers understand their role in the war is precarious. While a blind eye is turned to certain ceasefire violations they know the can just as easily be blamed for undermining the ceasefire. They understand that their own government may one day turn its back on them. However, they say that they don't fight for the government, but for the idea of Ukraine.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 8, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - NEWT watches as shells land outside the unit's position along the frontline in an industrial area of Avdiivka, Ukraine. In the now abandoned industrial outskirts of Avdiivka, Ukraine, the 74th battalion of the Ukrainian army maintains several small positions within 100 meters of those held by separatists troops of the Donetsk People's Republic (DNR).
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 9, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - SANTA gives the order to fire at separatist positions. The men are frustrated by their government's strict following of the ceasefire rules. They are often denied permission to fire into the greyzone and have to wait for the enemy to cross into their territory before firing. Despite the conditions of the Minsk ceasefire agreement, separatists continue to fire 82mm,120mm and 152mm shells, rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns into the area.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 9, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - Shrapnel damage to a warehouse in Ukrainian held territory in Avdiivka. A Ukrainian soldier was killed outside the warehouse as DNR troops have been randomly shelling the area to prevent the Ukrainian armed forces from fortifying their positions. The strategy is to destroy the remaining buildings so that Ukrainian troops can entrench and fortify their positions.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 10, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - SHAMAN, an unpaid volunteer soldier with Right Sector, poses for a portrait in the basement bunker while shelling continues outside.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 8, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - Despite the shelling continuing outside, COMMANDER, NEWT, MARTIN, PILOT, and SANTA watch a documentary about the battle for Donetsk airport, which they had participated in last year, in a bunker on the frontline in Avdiivka, a hundred meters from DNR troop positions.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 11, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - IVAN, a regular army soldier holds the light for Newt, an unpaid volunteer soldier in Right Sector as he prepares an ammunition belt for their position's guns. While the legal status of Right Sector's participation in the war is questionable, they army commander stays in their position and they coordinate their work together.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 9, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - NEWT brings ammunition to the position's gun during a heavy bout of shelling.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 9, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - COMMANDER studies the map. Separatists soldiers have come up one side of their position and there is fear that they will be cut off. They work in complete darkness, only turning on flashlights to briefly study maps.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 11, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - PILOT, an unpaid volunteer soldier with Right Sector, poses for a portrait in the basement bunker while shelling continues outside.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 8, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - A Ukrainian soldier operates a machine gun 100 meters from separatist positions in Avdiivka, Ukraine. Because of sniper fire, it is the most dangerous position on the front.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 12, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - Men risk exposure to mortar attacks in order to call family. The only spot in the position with cell service is located upstairs in a stairwell facing separatist troops.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 10, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - SANTA, the leader of a group of unpaid volunteer soldiers with Right Sector, poses for a portrait in the basement bunker while shelling continues outside.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 8, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - SANTA, leader of a unit of unpaid volunteers in Right Sector, speaks with his wife on the overnight train from Kiev to Krasnoarmiisk. From there, the volunteers will take a taxi to Avdiivka and then ride with the regular army to the front lines.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 12, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - The men watch reconnaissance footage of an enemy troops being hit by a shell after crossing into Ukrainian held territory.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 13, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - NEWT has been feeding a sick kitten and tried to keep it in the kitchen area of the bunker. The other volunteers, concerned about the health risk, made him put it outside.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 9, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - SANTA, who has been awake for almost 24 hours continues to monitor communications while DONUT relaxes.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 10, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - NEWT, an unpaid volunteer soldier with Right Sector, poses for a portrait in the basement bunker while shelling continues outside.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 11, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - YAR looks at DONUT who has recently arrived to join the volunteer unit on the frontline in Avdiivka. The Right Sector volunteers spend the majority of the day in bunker because of continuous shelling. Thus comraderee, compatibility and trust are essential. Donut was sent home after his poor hygiene and discipline issues kept him from jelling with the others.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 9, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - The volunteer's position is in an industrial compound. Former workers left the contents of their lockers behind after having to leave in haste.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 11, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - A Ukrainian soldier killed in a mortar attack on a stretcher outside the volunteer's position.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire

Mar 13, 2016 - Avdiivka, Ukraine - NEWT is upset that he is not allowed to keep a sick kitten in the kitchen.
© Christopher Occhicone/zReportage.com/ZUMA Wire