Zelensky told how many Azovstal defenders are held prisoners by russians

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that more than 2,500 Azovstal defenders are held prisoners by russia.

The President stated this in a conversation with journalists, RBC-Ukraine reports.

According to him, the intelligence of the Ministry of Defense is working on the release of these prisoners. The head of state said that he did not take seriously the words of russia and DNR militants about the prisoners' future. He considers it to be only PR.

Zelensky also believes that it is unfavorably for the occupiers to torture Azovstal fighters because they have become "public prisoners."

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A reminder that the defense intelligence of Ukraine published a video of Ukrainian defenders delivering weapons and ammunition to Azovstal fighters by helicopter.

Budanov said that 16 military helicopters Mi-8 flew to the defenders of Azovstal with help; once there were 72 fighters of the Azov Regiment on board.

For the first time, about the operation of delivering ammunition, provisions, and medicines by helicopter to Azovstal told Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council.

At that time, the defenders of Mariupol were still under siege by russian troops on the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant.

President Volodymyr Zelensky, after the evacuation of the Ukrainian military from Azovtstal, said in an interview with the United Telemarathon that 90% of pilots did not return home during such helicopter operations.

In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda, Andriy Biletsky, the founder and first commander of the Azov Regiment, said that the last two attempts by helicopters to deliver the necessary supplies for the defenders of Mariupol had failed.

He also said that these operations have no similar precedents in world history and added that, during one such flight, five doctors arrived from the Dnipro, including a surgeon and an anesthesiologist.