"We check their documents and car registration papers," says Arten. "We are here all day every weekend."
Asked if they consider themselves to be "patriots," they answer "yes" in unison.
A few dozen kilometres away, 10-year-old Maskym is wearing a military coat covered in badges and a plastic helmet.
Carrying a wooden rifle, he waves to passing Ukrainian soldiers.
"I gave the army 15,000 hryvnias ($400 USD)" he proudly tells AFP journalists.
"I like to help people and make them laugh," he says before heading back to his post next to a pretend artillery unit and rocket and a Ukrainian flag.
