Russian GRU General promised Azov Battalion security guarantees before Azovstal surrender
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A general from Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) promised security guarantees and quick release from captivity for the Mariupol defenders before their Azovstal surrender in May 2022, Konstantyn Kozhekin, an Azov Battalion officer released from the captivity, revealed in an interview with BBC Ukraine published on Dec. 17.
The Azov’s Battalion commander, Lt. Col. Denys Prokopenko, call sign "Redis," had the letter promising release within three to four months at the time of the surrender. It was signed by Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseev, the first deputy head of Russia's GRU, but was taken away during the initial interrogation.
"Our commander had a letter signed by Vladimir Alekseev at the time of our capture. It was no guarantee, because the Russian side easily violates any agreements," Kozhekin said.
What is known about Mariupol defenders in captivity?
After two months of urban warfare with the Russian invasion forces, the defenders of Mariupol were surrounded at the Azovstal Steelworks with a limited supply of medicines, food, drinking water and ammunition. They left the plant and surrendered on May 16, 2022 by the order of the General Staff, with the aim of saving their lives.
The evacuation was mediated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, which recorded the personal data of the Ukrainian military, and the UN. The Ukrainian soldiers were taken to a medical facility in occupied Novoazovsk, as well as to the territory of the penal colony #120 in occupied Olenivka, Donetsk Oblast.
Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said there was no other way to rescue the heroes from Azovstal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on June 6, 2022 that more than 2,500 Mariupol defenders were in Russian captivity. A total of 2,449 defenders left the territory of Azovstal.
Ukraine conducted on Sept. 21, 2022 one of the largest prisoners-of-war swaps since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion. At that time 215 people were returned home, including 188 Mariupol defenders.
Five Azov commanders were exchanged for 55 Russian service members, on condition that they would be sent to exile in Turkey until the end of the full-scale invasion. However, they were released and travelled back to Ukraine with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the Ukrainian head of state visited Turkey on July 8.
Russia then accused Ukraine and Turkey of violating the terms of the prisoner exchange deal.
Some of the Azovstal defenders have remained in captivity for almost 20 months.
Russia is holding a total of 3,574 Ukrainian servicemen in captivity, including more than 700 Azov servicemen, the Reintegration Ministry says.
There has been no major prisoner exchange for more than four months.
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