Azov brigade commander: 900 Azovstal defenders for 2 years in captivity now, we won't stop until we get everyone back
Lieutenant Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard, has reiterated that more than 900 Azov servicemen have been in captivity for two years, which is exactly how much time passed since these fighters left the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast.
Source: Prokopenko on Facebook
Quote: "The defence of Mariupol saved Ukraine. The price of this rescue was the lives of our warriors killed in urban warfare and as a result of the terrorist attack in Olenivka [in July 2022], as well as the freedom of hundreds of our brothers who had been held captive in Russia for two years.
It's been two years. Two years of resistance of more than 900 soldiers from the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade, who defended Ukraine with desperate measures, and who are now in Russian captivity.
Their names are not forgotten. Today, every struggle, every shot, and every step lead to the same goal: to bring the captured Azovites home. And until that happens, we will continue to fight. We will get everyone back. We will free everyone."
Details: Prokopenko recounted receiving an order from the country's senior military-political leadership two years ago to halt the defence of Mariupol and surrender the Azovstal territory.
Prior to this, conversations with the Russian side resulted in agreements on civilian evacuation from the Azovstal plant. Then hundreds of Mariupol citizens who sought refuge in the factory were saved.
All of the civilians who were hiding at Azovstal from Russian aerial bombs survived. On 7 May, 2022, last civilian left the plant.
Following that, the Mariupol garrison maintained their defence until the high command issued the order to surrender.
In May 2022, Prokopenko also released a photo taken during negotiations on neutral territory, between the Kommunalnik enterprise and the Azovstal metallurgical facility.
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