The defenders of Mariupol are alive and work on their release never stops – Yermak

OLENA ROSHCHINA - MONDAY, 20 JUNE 2022, 11:38

The Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is continuing to work on securing the release of the Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol, as well as two British citizens and a Moroccan citizen who have been captured by the Russians and threatened with execution.

Source: Andrii Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, in an interview with the Left Bank newspaper

Details: Yermak stressed that Ukrainian intelligence is aware of more of the details, but confirmed that this issue is constantly being monitored.

The head of the President’s Office could not say what conditions are like for the captured ‘Azovites’ or what the timeframe for their return home might be.

Direct quote: "This is a difficult issue; we are working on it. This is a priority task at the moment, including for the Chief Intelligence Directorate.

We know they're alive. As for the conditions, this issue is also being monitored. We can't yet say exactly what conditions they are [being held] in. But we know for sure that they are alive.

The Chief Intelligence Directorate is constantly monitoring this; there is contact with some of them, and the process of securing their release never stops even for an hour. I very much hope that it will now enter its active phase, and we will begin to bring our heroes back to Ukraine."

Details: According to Yermak, the Chief Intelligence Directorate also played a part in getting the fighters out of the Azovstal plant, and the President's Office was kept fully informed.

Yermak emphasised that negotiations and consultations are still ongoing, and redundant information could harm the process.

Direct quote: "I know for sure that the objective at the first stage was to save the lives of our heroes. The Chief Intelligence Directorate has achieved this objective. Today they are engaged in the second stage – their return. And they will be able to give all the details, I think.

You also know, I think, that the process of returning the bodies of our fallen heroes has begun. More than 200 have already returned. Forensic examinations are being conducted, and it is also very important that relatives and family can receive and bury their dead."

Details: When asked what would happen if the Russians ignore the agreements and start passing sentences on prisoners, as they have done with the two British citizens and one Moroccan citizen, Yermak replied: "The Chief Intelligence Directorate is also dealing with this issue, by the way – both the British citizens and the Moroccan citizen."

Direct quote: "The position of the head of state has not changed. He said that if anything happens to these people, any negotiations can be forgotten about. He said this when they were there (at Azovstal – ed.), and he will continue to hold this position until they return to our country.

We understand that there is an element of blackmail and ‘raising the stakes’ on the part of the Russian Federation. But let's wait for the outcome."

Previously: On 19 June, Russian media reported that the commanders of the Azov Regiment had been taken from the occupied territory of the Donetsk region to Russia for "investigative actions". Prior to that, Denys Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine, handed over his duties to Major Mykyta Nadtochii.

Background: 

• The Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol who were evacuated from Azovstal in May are being held in a penal colony in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainska Pravda sources in the Ukrainian government said that 2,449 Ukrainian servicemen were being held captive in Olenivka.
• The defenders of Mariupol entered Russian-controlled territory on 16-20 May. According to the Russian side, 2,439 fighters came out of the Azovstal bunkers. Representatives of the Red Cross registered the Ukrainian defenders as prisoners of war.
• The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the Mariupol garrison had fulfilled its combat mission and the commanders had been ordered to save the lives of their personnel. The Ministry of Defence explained that there was no other way to save the defenders from Azovstal other than for them to come out towards the enemy without their weapons.
• The Russians and their accomplices in the temporarily-occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk are threatening the Azov fighters with a tribunal. A prisoner exchange has not yet been discussed, despite agreements.

Terrorists from temporarily-occupied areas of Donetsk have "sentenced" to death three foreigners who were fighting for Ukraine: British citizens Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan student Brahim Saadun. The European Court of Human Rights has said in an interim ruling that Russia should not allow the execution of Brahim Saadun. Moscow has resolved not to implement any ECHR rulings issued after 15 March 2022.