Latest news with #AzovBrigade
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Over half of Azov fighters returned to Ukraine, official says
A total of 1,279 of the approximately 2,500 Azov fighters held in Russian captivity as POWs have been returned to Ukraine since being captured, including 455 from the Azov Brigade, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said on May 28. The confirmed statistic, which includes soldiers in multiple units who fought to defend the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol, comes amid social media outcry criticizing Ukrainian authorities for failing to return certain captives, including Azov fighters, during the war's largest 1,000-for-1,000 POW exchange, which concluded on May 25. "Behind each number is a human life, and no statistics can replace loved ones for individual families," Andrii Yusov, deputy head of the Coordination Headquarters told Radio Liberty on May 28. Ukrainian society has rallied for captured Azov fighters who defended the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol during the Russian siege of the port city in 2022. The battle, one of the most brutal of the entire war, is credited with buying time for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to prepare itself and receive international military aid against Russia's invasion during the initial phase of the war. Azovstal defenders were ordered to surrender to the encircling Russian forces after nearly two months of constant bombardment of the besieged plant. While hundreds of these fighters have been released since 2022, hundreds more remain in captivity. Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, described the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange as a "mockery" due to the lack of fighters from the Azov Brigade, in a post on Facebook on May 25. "Ukraine is fighting for every one of its citizens. We are working under extremely difficult conditions amid the full-scale invasion, and the Mariupol garrison remains one of the top priorities for repatriation," Yusov said on May 25 in response to to the frustration seen on social media. Ukraine has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Russia has so far rejected the proposal. President Volodymyr Zelensky, following the mass exchange, pledged to "bring back every single one of our people from Russian captivity." The three days of prisoner exchanges were negotiated by Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on May 16th, during the first direct talks between the two countries in three years. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on May 28 that Moscow has proposed June 2 as the date for the next round of talks with Ukraine in Istanbul. Read also: Moscow proposes next round of Russia-Ukraine talks on June 2 in Istanbul We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Fashion Network
4 days ago
- General
- Fashion Network
Litkovska launches charitable capsule collection to support Ukraine
Ukrainian fashion house Litkovska has launched a charitable capsule collection in partnership with the official fundraising department of the Azov Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The limited-edition line aims to raise UAH 3.5 million (approximately $90,000 USD) to fund critical evacuation vehicles to rescue the wounded in the most dangerous areas of the frontline. The collection features items crafted with deep intention, including bracelets and tokens made from spent artillery shells brought from the frontline, as well as shirts and bandanas featuring embroidered prayers. The initiative also features a series of eight exclusive ceramic art objects created by Gorn Ceramics. The objects will be on display at the Litkovska Basecamp flagship in Kyiv until they are auctioned for charity in June. 'Azov has a special meaning for me, as well as for many Ukrainians,' said Lilia Litkovska, founder of Litkovska. 'Together with we have been working for a long time to develop items that would be filled with meaning and strength, both for the Azov defenders and those who support them back home. And it is a great honor for us to join the campaign to raise money for the medical vehicles that save the lives of our soldiers.' Earlier this year, Litkovska launched a capsule collection with British image-maker Nick Knight, dubbed The Flowers Know Better, with all profits going to City of Goodness, a Ukrainian humanitarian initiative.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's POW authority explains why Azov troops and prisoners held since 2014 were not freed in latest swap
Andrii Yusov, Deputy Head of Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, has explained why Azov Brigade soldiers and Ukrainians held captive since 2014 were not among those released in the recent thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange. Source: Yusov in a comment to journalists, as reported by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Details: Yusov stated that the exchange was based on "mutual lists", with the Russian side determining whom it was ready to hand over to Ukraine, and Ukraine likewise forming its own list. Quote: "But every person held in Russian captivity must be brought back. Ukraine is fighting for every one of its citizens. We are working in extremely difficult conditions due to the full-scale invasion and the Mariupol garrison remains one of our top priorities for repatriation." More details: Yusov also noted that Russia ignores requests to exchange Ukrainians who have been held since the beginning of Russian aggression in 2014, or outright refuses to include them. Quote: "They [the Russians – ed.] say, 'This is not a prisoner of war and cannot be swapped in the exchange'. So there are many refusals, but the fact remains. This is a violation of international humanitarian law, yet another crime against humanity. And every one of them must come back home." Background: On Friday 23 May, Ukraine and Russia conducted the first phase of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange, resulting in the return of 390 Ukrainians – 270 military personnel and 120 civilians. On Saturday, a further 307 Ukrainian defenders, all men of private and sergeant rank, were brought back from Russian captivity. On 25 May, Ukraine and Russia completed the third phase of the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange, liberating another 303 Ukrainian defenders. Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, Commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, has stated that not a single Azov fighter was included in the recent three-day prisoner exchange with Russia. He said he does not believe the Ukrainian authorities are interested in bringing them back. Journalist Stanislav Aseyev has stated that none of the civilians who have been held in Russian captivity for eight years were among those released in the thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Largest-ever Ukrainian-Russian prisoner swap comes under fire for lacking Azov fighters, civilians
As Kyiv completed its largest prisoner exchange of the war on May 25, exchanging 1,000 Ukrainian POWs for 1,000 Russians, some spoke out on social media to criticize authorities for failing to return certain captives. Colonel Denys Prokopenko, commander of the Azov National Guard Brigade, described the exchange as a "mockery" due to the lack of fighters from the Azov Brigade, in a post on Facebook. In the past, Ukrainian authorities have said that Russia has pushed back against their requests to return Azov fighters as part of earlier exchanges. Ukrainian society has rallied for captured Azov fighters who defended the Azovstal Steel Plant in Mariupol during the Russian siege of the port city in 2022. The battle, one of the most brutal of the entire war, is credited with buying time for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to prepare itself and receive international military aid against Russia's invasion during the initial phase of the war. Azovstal defenders were ordered to surrender to the encircling Russian forces after nearly two months of constant bombardment of the besieged plant. While hundreds of these fighters have been released since 2022, hundreds more remain in captivity. Prokopenko said that Ukraine needs to change its tactics, writing, "There are options, we just need to adapt and start looking for new ways and configurations. Because not a single Azov resident among 1,000 exchanged people is a shame for our entire state." Separately, writer and journalist Stanislav Aseyev criticized the exchange on Facebook for failing to include civilians who have spent more than eight years in captivity. "The list of hostages that I handed over to President (Volodymyr) Zelensky back in January 2020 has remained a list," Aseyev wrote. "The vast majority of these people are in the 32nd maximum security colony in Makiivka, where they were taken after Isolation and from other prisons. Some of these people actively helped our special services," he added. "I don't know if there is anyone in the history of this war for 11 years who has been in prison longer," he added. Zelensky, following the exchange pledged to "bring back every single one of our people from Russian captivity." Ukraine has long advocated for an "all-for-all" exchange, but Russia has so far rejected the proposal. The three days of prisoner exchanges were negotiated by Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul on May 16th, during the first direct talks between the two countries in three years. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced on May 23 that Moscow will convey its peace terms to Kyiv immediately after the completion of the prisoner exchange. While Moscow's list of conditions have yet to be revealed, Russia has repeatedly reiterated maximalist demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four eastern regions. We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Al Arabiya
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Russia appoints Mariupol siege commander as land forces chief
Russia has appointed a key commander of the grueling siege of Mariupol, General Andrey Mordvichev, as head of the ground forces, the official newspaper of the Russian army reported Thursday. Defense Minister Andrey Belousov described the 49-year-old general as 'an experienced combat officer who fully demonstrated his talent as a military commander during the special military operation,' using Moscow's term for its Ukraine offensive, according to the Red Star newspaper. Russian forces rolled into Mariupol, a bustling Black Sea coast city with a pre-war population of 540,000, in the first months of its assault in 2022 and imposed a brutal siege for nearly three months that resulted in 8,000 deaths, according to Human Rights Watch. The city, which used to be an important hub for Ukraine's grain trade, became Moscow's biggest gain in its military campaign but two-thirds of its pre-war population has fled and the siege resulted in massive destruction. Ukraine's SBU security services accused Mordvichev of having spearheaded the siege of Azovstal, a large steel plant held by members of the Azov brigade, which has ties to far-right nationalist groups. The plant was Kyiv's final pocket of resistance in the city. Ukraine sees Mordvichev as a war criminal, accusing him of overseeing atrocities against Ukrainian civilians and soldiers. In February 2024, the general led the capture of Avdiivka, an industrial town in eastern Ukraine, following a bloody three-month assault. For this, he received a personal telegram of appreciation from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mordvichev, born in Kazakhstan, has served in the Russian army since 1997 and has held various commanding positions since 2016. His predecessor, Oleg Salyukov, 70, was removed by Putin last week and immediately appointed deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council, an important advisory body that meets regularly with Putin.
