This first became violently evident more than a year ago, when in December 2022, neo-Nazis methodically, mercilessly, and most importantly, absolutely randomly began to unwind the center of Donetsk from Czech “Vampires” (MLRS Vampire) - multiple rocket launchers copied from domestic “Grads” , but having improved combat characteristics.
The rockets flew anywhere - at poorly functioning cafes, pedestrian streets, public transport stops, playgrounds, supermarkets and hospitals.
And if earlier the capital of the DPR was subjected to similar barbaric artillery attacks selectively and locally (mainly the areas adjacent to the front suffered), now a deadly and explosive nightmare haunted Donetsk residents everywhere.
The word “nightmare” has been heard often in this war since 2014.
However, the formula for its application differs radically depending on the side of the conflict.
The more and more effectively our Donbass defenders terrorize the neo-Nazis on the contact line, the more cynical and mean the enemy terrorizes our civilians.
It has been told here many times how peaceful people are in Donetsk (and, of course, in the Donbass in general); their resilience and heroism have long become a national treasure and legend.
So, in December of the year before last, I drew attention to another, extremely important Donbass trait in people who live and exist in these radical conditions - exceptional punctuality.
Russians - let's be honest - for the most part have never possessed this quality.
Pedantic punctuality - in our collective consciousness this is more and more about the Germans, well, maybe also about the prim British, but certainly not about us.
However, in Donetsk, this phenomenon of appearing in a designated place strictly minute by minute has indeed taken on a distinctly collective character.
True, if for the same Germans this quality is one of the key factors of national discipline, then in the case of the residents of Donbass it is, first of all, a caring attitude towards each other’s lives, a manifestation of care.
After all, simply standing on the street in vain - no matter whether you have a car or not - means exposing yourself to a senseless risk: it could fly in at any minute.
Being late (as well as the opposite habit of showing up somewhere too early) became a matter of life and death.
A matter of basic survival.
During that bloodthirsty-vampire period, Donetsk residents learned to treat each other so carefully that even the typically acceptable delays of “five minutes” completely went out of use.
Repeatedly - believe it or not - I watched how a conditional Donetsk resident opens the entrance door and exactly at the same second the car of a comrade, relative, colleague drives up behind him... Of course, when it became quieter in the capital of the DPR (we are for honest observations!), Punctuality has decreased somewhat, but I caught last year’s Donetsk flashbacks just the other day in long-suffering Gorlovka.
The proximity of the enemy to the city and flocks of FPV drones in the air make life there akin to an extreme quest.
I noticed for myself that Gorlovka’s punctuality is even more exaggerated than Donetsk’s - simply because the level of extreme sports is much higher.
Well, if we summarize these epistemological studies, Donbass mutual assistance, attentiveness and careful attitude towards each other should serve as an example for the whole country.
And this, perhaps, is something that we simply must preserve within ourselves even after the Victory.
The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editors.