A lot's in a Name in Rebel-Held East Ukraine

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

As Italian and Barber fiddled with a broken television set in their base near Ukraine's frontline, Accurate laid down his Kalashnikov to tuck into a bowl of borsch.

Across rebel-held territory in the war-ravaged east, since the start of the Russian-fueled conflict the vast array of military nicknames used by insurgent fighters has become a strange feature of everyday life.

At separatist positions, the pro-Moscow combatants typically do not use surnames or first names but rather military monikers that are designed to obscure their identities, and often give clues about their characters or past.

Noisy or Quiet, Motorola and Wild Boar: translated from Russian, they make a long -- and sometimes bizarre -- list.

"Honestly speaking, I don't know how some people thought theirs up. Many chose something that related specifically to them, but others just dreamed something up," says bulky rebel Italian.

As for him, he spent four years working as an agricultural and construction worker near Salerno and Naples in Italy before returning to his native Donetsk region some five years back.

The introduction of nicknames dates back to the beginning of the insurgency, when fighters wanted to disguise who they were -- not just from the enemy but also from each other.

"In the early days when this movement was getting started everyone was afraid for their life and that their family might suffer, and so they began using code names," Italian says.

"We used them to be able to communicate with each other, because if someone doesn't know your name then he has less information about you to use."

Coming up with a good nom de guerre is something of an art form.

Two syllables is the best length -- easier to distinguish as a call-sign over the radio, but short enough to be shouted quickly in the heat of battle.

It's good also to choose something original.

"We've got like three dozen Tomcats," says Cid, a commander in the Oplot, or Fortress, battalion.

The former construction worker, who comes from a nearby town, took his unusual name from the medieval Spanish knight El Cid known for his military prowess and advanced tactics.

"I liked the story of his life and had read a bit about it, so I chose it," says the grey-haired rebel, 40.

"I'm the only one with that name in the insurgency. There is only one Cid."

As the rebellion has worn on into its eight month, the situation is changing and code names may be becoming things of the past.

After fighting side by side, trust has grown among the fighters, and they say they've now increasingly started using each other's real names.

"We fought together and bonded in different situations and got used to knowing each other," says Cid.

And as the separatists have strengthened their control over chunks of this region they are also attempting to change their image.

"We are trying to turn ourselves into a real army and not just a militia," the rebel commander says.

"We are drawing up lists and moving towards using first names and surnames, and the nicknames are being phased out."

Comments 0