Hundreds hold Free Azov rally to mark 600 days of captivity

On January 7, relatives of captured servicemembers, in particular, defenders of Azovstal in Mariupol, gathered in the center of Kyiv for the Free Azov rally.

UP, Association of Family Defenders Azovstal writes about this on Telegram.

As reported, several hundred people gathered in Kyiv downtown to remind that the defenders of Azovstal are still in Russian captivity.

Ukrainians stood with posters:

• "Return my son from captivity",
• "Do not be silent, captivity kills,"
• "While you are silent, my family is being tortured"

During the air alarm, the police reminded the participants of the action to take shelter.

We will remind you that more than 900 soldiers of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine have been in Russian captivity for almost two years.

"For 600 days, more than 900 fighters of the 12th special purpose brigade Azov of NGU, who fought with the overwhelming forces of the enemy in the surrounded Mariupol, are in captivity," the Association wrote.

They added that in the spring of 2022, they won time for all of Ukraine.

"Getting them out of terrible captivity is the duty of every Ukrainian. We remember our captured brothers and their rank. And we do everything to get them back home," the organization emphasized.

Defense of Mariupol

Russian troops destroyed Mariupol, the Donetsk region. The city was under blockade by the Russian army since the beginning of March 2022. The head of the Donetsk regional military administration, Kyrylenko, reported that 20,000 to 22,000 people died in Mariupol during the hostilities.

It was possible to obtain lists of children who were killed by Russian invaders in 2022. According to the list of the enemy, 101 Mariupol children died.

We all remember the heroic defense of Mariupol, how Ukrainian defenders fought for the city for 86 days, 82 of which Mariupol was completely surrounded. They repelled the attacks of the overwhelming enemy force and hoped for salvation.

During the defense of the city, on May 4, 2022, the Russians broke through to the Azovstal plant, which Ukrainian soldiers defended. Fighting continued between the occupiers and Ukrainian soldiers.

Therefore, on May 17, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the higher military command had given an order to the commanders of the units in Azovstal to save the lives of the personnel, and the Russians captured the fighters.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in June 2022 that after the battles for Mariupol, more than 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal plant were captured by Russia, and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense is engaged in their liberation.

On September 22, the commander of the KRAKEN special unit, Serhii Velychko, reported that the leaders of Azov, commander Denys Prokopenko "Redys" and his deputy Svyatoslav Palamar "Kalyna," who courageously defended Azovstal, managed to be released from Russian captivity.

The Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War noted that the exchange, which took place on January 3, was the largest in terms of the number of returned defenders.

For 19 months, the Russian Federation has been hiding the status and whereabouts of 1,600 captured defenders of Azovstal and Mariupol. The last major trades were half a year ago, the longest period without trades since February 24, 2022.