Intelligence officers explain why Azovstal exit was not a surrender

ROMAN ROMANIUK — THURSDAY, 9 JUNE 2022, 16:28

Ukrainian soldiers defending Azovstal did not turn over their weapons to Russians, but left the plant after agreeing on the conditions of their detention.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources working in intelligence in the Ministry of Defence; Ukrainska Pravda article "The Island of Hope": How Azovstal defenders got out and where they are now 

Details: According to Ukrainska Pravda sources in Zelenskyy's circle, it was in April that the first plan was made for the extraction of the garrison at Mariupol under guarantees of the FSB.

Quote from source in intelligence: "In April, David Arakhamia agreed that Russia was ready to release everyone [trapped in Azovstal -ed.]. Bortnikov [head of the FSB - ed.] could even come to Mariupol, personally, so that everyone could leave Azovstal under his guarantee. Then the wounded had to go immediately to the hospital in Enerhodar [Zaporizhzhia Oblast - ed.], and all those who were not injured would gather somewhere, and they would [immediately go through the process of] exchange.

But the plant's defenders –Redis [Denys Prokopenko, Azov commander] and others – refused. They believed that captivity would certainly mean death for them."

More details: After this, the negotiations on Azovstal were handed over to the military intelligence of Ukraine and Russia. Both the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Chief Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Federation were to agree on a way out [for the Ukrainian troops in Azovstal].

It was important that the commanders of the Mariupol garrison took part in the negotiations and discussion of the conditions. The meeting of Russian military and Ukrainian forces took place on 9 May near Mariupol.

Quote: "Several armoured vehicles bearing Russian army markings approached the territory of the besieged Azovstal plant, which Russia has been bombing and storming every day for several weeks, in complete silence (!) The commanders of Ukrainian units came out from the plant to meet them, got into a car and left the city in the direction of the Russian headquarters. A few hours later, the cars returned to Azovstal, Redis [Denys Prokopenko, Azov commander] and other commanders of the Mariupol garrison ran from their cars to the destroyed buildings of the plant."

During the negotiations, the Ukrainians agreed on the terms of their exit and detention.

Quote from source in intelligence: "It is not possible to say ‘surrendered’. The Marines from the Ilich Metallurgical Plant – they surrendered. But it would be dishonest to say the same about Azovstal's defenders.

First, they did not lay down their arms in front of the Russians. All Azovstal fighters handed over their weapons to their officers, handed over their weapons to the commander before leaving, he shook their hand, thanked them for their service, apologised for not winning, and only then did the soldiers go over to the Russians."

In addition, according to the source, it was agreed that:

• The Russian Chief Intelligence Directorate will be solely responsible for the detention of Ukrainian soldiers, in such a way it gives the Ukrainian military personnel a chance to be held captive in accordance with Geneva convention standards, access to international organisations, and so on
• All fighters must remain alive, they must not be tortured
• Those who left Azovstal would be retained and prepared for exchange
• There would be opportunities to settle soldiers of units together with their officers, with access to their own doctors and cooks
• To keep one Starlink [internet modem] to keep in touch with relatives and the country's leadership – this was immediately rejected by Russian