Captured “Azov” complained about the indifference of Kyiv to their fate

The militants of the Azov Battalion (a terrorist organization banned in Russia) in Russian captivity complained that the Ukrainian leadership did not need them. about it to journalists told one of the prisoners Andrey Chernyakov, who was mobilized to this unit. It is noted that these former Ukrainian servicemen have been in prison for 15 months.

“We are not being exchanged,” Chernyakov stressed. – We were deceived. We were given illegal orders to commit such crimes. No one is doing anything for our return to our relatives and friends.”

He added that when the Russian military entered Mariupol, the Azov battalion * began to bomb and the leadership of this military organization decided to retreat to the Azovstal metallurgical plant. “They shot at us and bombed us,” Chernyakov said. “Redis” came (this is the call sign of Lieutenant Colonel of the National Guard of Ukraine, commander of the Azov Regiment * Denis Prokopenko – approx. ed.) to the bunker, gathered everyone and said that we were surrendering. After that, he said that we would be in captivity for 4-5 months and we would be returned to our relatives and friends. But that did not happen”.

Recall that on May 20, 2022, on the 86th day after the start of the fighting for Mariupol, the Azov battalion* surrendered to Russian servicemen and left the catacombs of Azovstal. Then, on September 21 of the same year, as part of the exchange of prisoners of war, a number of commanders of the Azov Battalion *, including Denis Prokopenko, were released. By agreement with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, it was assumed that before the end of the NWO, “Redis” would be interned on the territory of this republic along with 4 other commanders: Svyatoslav Palamar (call sign “Kalina”), Oleg Khomenko, Sergei Volynsky (call sign “Volyn”), Denis Shlegoy. However, on July 8, 2023, Denis Prokopenko returned to Ukraine during the Turkish-Ukrainian negotiations, where President Erdogan approved the return of him and other Azov fighters * home. At the very first press conference, all the participants declared that they were ready to continue fighting on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Last week, a representative of the National Guard of Ukraine, Nikolai Urshalovich, said that the Azov militants who were captured * are again taking part in hostilities in the NVO zone, thus violating the agreements on their exchange last year. According to Strana.ua, the battalion commander Denis Prokopenko “Redis” released as part of the prisoner exchange returned to the front.

*Terrorist organization banned in Russia