Mozart, a volunteer organization run by ex-soldiers, says it wants to save lives in Ukraine by offering aid and military training – and chose its name as a “witty” nod to the notorious Russian paramilitary group Wagner.

The two could both be named after famous composers, but those offering their efforts in Mozart say that’s where the similarities end.

The group consists of volunteer army veterans who provide humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation and combat training of Ukrainians.

“We’re definitely not conducting military operations like the Wagner group,” says 52-year-old Steve, walkie-talkie in hand.

Steve – who served in the Marines for 23 years – is at the wheel of a jeep filled with food from the NGO World Central Kitchen.

The three vehicles in his convoy are all brimming with food for a village in the Ukrainian-controlled part of the Donetsk region.

Upon arrival, 260 packages are stacked on the stage of the theater in the village center to be later distributed to residents.

“It doesn’t seem like much. But we’re a small organization,” he says.

Mozart can reach places “where bigger organizations can’t go,” he says, because it’s more agile.

“Humanitarian aid helps us a lot,” says Maksim, a man in his 60s, holding a loaf of bread.

“I live on my small pension, it’s hard to survive in these (war) times.”

The emptied cars can now also offer to take civilians to safer areas away from the front lines.

Steve and others in the group – which varies from 10 to 25 members – are able to “evacuate civilians, adults, children and their pets.”

Their mission seems far removed from the Russian Wagner group.

Little is known about the shadowy paramilitary group believed to be linked to Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, himself an associate of President Vladimir Putin.

The presence of Wagner paramilitaries has been documented in Libya, Mali, Syria and Ukraine, among other places.

The naming of the group Mozart was a “tongue-in-cheek” response to the group, according to Andy Bain, a former US Navy Reserves officer.

Mozart — which was founded after the war began by a former US commander and is funded by donations — offers military training, but Bain says what they teach is really “a lot of common sense.”

“Many of these soldiers have never fired a weapon before,” says Operations Manager Martin Wetterauer.

“Guns are obviously very dangerous in the hands of people who don’t know how to use them.”

In a field in the Donetsk region, Mozart’s foreign instructors put a group of around twenty Ukrainian soldiers through their paces.

“The enemy is here! Bang, bang, bang!” shouts an instructor from across the field as the soldiers emerge.

The soldiers quickly throw themselves to the ground and simulate shooting back.

After practice, their performance is checked by instructors who try to correct mistakes.

“What’s so complicated? Basically, all you have to do is shoot at the enemy!” shouts one of the trainers in English.

“Don’t hold your gun like that, it’s not a guitar!” his interpreter tells a soldier.

Georgii, a 32-year-old soldier-in-training, says he feels his skills have improved through the course.

“This type of training is very useful because even with combat experience, we can always learn something new,” he says.

But many of the soldiers are beginners.

Former naval officer Wetterauer explains that Mozart’s training revolved around “combat survivability” and “basic training”.

This includes knowing how to properly wear a bulletproof vest, protect yourself from enemy artillery by digging shelters, or provide medical care.

“Strategically, we have very little influence on the outcome of this war, we know that,” says Wetterauer.

“But our goal is to save lives.”