Ukrainian soldier with SS chevron

A photograph from the time of the war in Donbas. Soldiers on both sides — both Donbas insurgents and fighters of Ukrainian armed formations — liked to use patches that reflected their views or life philosophy. This Ukrainian soldier was clearly an SS fan. On the patch, above the SS symbol, there is an inscription in Russian that reads "electrician" (for the vast majority of Ukrainians, even those with extreme nationalist views, Russian remains the primary language of communication), which serves as an ironic reference to the SS symbol — the double lightning bolt. At the bottom of the patch is an inscription in German: "Einsatzgruppe M" The Einsatzgruppen were SS units during World War II, created specifically for the mass extermination of civilians in occupied territories. The patch reflects its wearer's understanding of his "mission" in Donbas.