Ukrainian commanders who were captured by Russia after leading the defense of Mariupol from the Azovstal steel plant last year have declared their determination to return to the battlefield. They made this announcement at a news conference held in Ukraine’s western city of Lviv, accompanied by President Volodymyr Zelensky, shortly after their arrival from Turkey, where they had been held since September under an agreement reached with Russia.
The commanders, among the highest-profile fighters to have fallen into Russian hands since the beginning of the war, were flown back to Ukraine in the same plane that brought President Zelensky back from his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is unclear why Erdogan apparently violated the agreement with Moscow by allowing their return before the end of the war.
For President Zelensky, this event represents another significant achievement from his trip to Istanbul, where he had already secured strong support from his Turkish counterpart for Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership.
The siege of Azovstal lasted for weeks and turned the defenders into heroes in Ukraine, as they held out from February until the end of May 2022. The Russian military claims that over 2,000 Ukrainian service members surrendered during the siege.
At the press briefing in Lviv, the commanders shared their experiences in Turkey and expressed their expectations for the future. Denys Prokopenko, a commander of the Azov regiment, emphasized that the Ukrainian army has gained a strategic advantage on the front line and continues to move forward daily. Returning to the front line was cited as the primary reason for their return to Ukraine.
Video footage showed large crowds gathering in Lviv to greet the leaders, and there was an atmosphere of celebration and support. Azov deputy commander Svyatoslav Palamar described their time in Turkey using a poem by renowned Ukrainian writer Lesya Ukrainka, illustrating their determination to continue their military duties.
President Zelensky expressed his gratitude to his team and, specifically, to President Erdogan for assisting in the repatriation of the Azovstal leaders. He also announced the appointment of Oleksandr Pivnenko as the new commander of the National Guard, highlighting his combat experience and accomplishments against Russian invaders.
This development marks a significant moment for the released commanders and Ukraine, as they prepare to rejoin the ongoing conflict in defense of their country.
Source: With Agencies