Latest news with #Denys"Redis"Prokopenko
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukrainian forces have captured 971 Russian troops during Kursk operation – Ukraine's General Staff
Ukraine's General Staff has stated that the Ukrainian defence forces have captured 971 Russian service members since the beginning of the ongoing offensive in Russia's Kursk Oblast. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook Quote: "To free our people from the enemy's torture chambers, the defence forces are relentlessly replenishing the POW exchange pool with Russian soldiers and officers. The Kursk offensive operation has been the most effective effort in this regard. Between 6 August 2024 and 25 May 2025, our defenders have captured 971 members of the Russian armed forces. The Ukrainian defence forces continue to conduct active operations in Kursk Oblast." Details: The General Staff emphasised that a numerically superior adversary can only be defeated through unconventional approaches, describing the Kursk campaign as "an unexpected and asymmetric move whose success has been acknowledged internationally". Quote: "The fight continues – for our territory and our people. Ukraine leaves no one behind." 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 drawn attention to the plight of civilians who have been held in Russian captivity for eight years, pointing out that not one of them was among those released during the recent thousand-for-thousand prisoner exchange. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's Azov Brigade soldiers left out of large-scale prisoner swap, its commander says
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. Source: Prokopenko on Facebook Quote from Prokopenko: "Not a single Azov fighter. Among the 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war exchanged today, there is not a single member of Azov. Yet some scumbag who asked prison guards for a knife to butcher our soldiers was swapped. This feels like a mockery of those who are in their fourth year of enduring inhumane conditions in Russian captivity, in the worst conditions. It's a mockery of their families, loved ones and brothers-in-arms. It's a mockery of those who were given guarantees and who have every right to be prioritised for swaps, as they were taken prisoner not of their own volition but [because they surrendered] by order of the high command. Just days ago, Ukraine marked the third anniversary of the Mariupol garrison's withdrawal from Azovstal, hoping that the thousand-for-thousand swap would include fighters from the 12th Azov Brigade. Those expectations were not met." Details: Prokopenko believes that Russia's reluctance to release Azov fighters is not the only reason why they have been excluded from prisoner exchanges. He argues that Ukraine should offer Russia individuals of greater significance than "some conscript from Omsk" to secure the release of Azov fighters. Quote from Prokopenko: "Ukraine is teeming with Russian agents – all the special services know this and need only an order to act. I believe that priests from the [Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the] Moscow Patriarchate, who openly work for Russian intelligence, would be of greater interest to Russia than the ordinary soldiers they're using to capture the lands of Ukraine... ...There are options; we just need to adapt and explore new approaches and configurations. Because the fact that not a single Azov fighter was among the thousand in this swap is a disgrace for our entire nation. I do not believe the authorities are committed to bringing back Azov fighters, because the same individuals are now in their fourth year of handling exchanges ineffectively." Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine's National Guard forms two corps led by Azov and Khartiia Brigades commanders
The National Guard of Ukraine has created two corps, headed by Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, Commander of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade Azov, and Colonel Ihor "Kornet" Obolenskyi, Commander of the 13th Operational Brigade Khartia. Source: National Guard of Ukraine on Facebook Details: Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, Commander of the National Guard, stated that it is crucial for the corps commander to be the direct leader of his units, to know the brigade commanders personally, and for them to know him too. The National Guard emphasised that the corps system will significantly improve communication between soldiers, enhance the flexibility and resilience of the forces, and make the Armed Forces more effective overall. The reform is based on lessons learned from the war with Russia, including the need for rapid manoeuvring, resilience to enemy strikes and the ability to hold large areas of territory. Background: In February, President Zelenskyy approved a plan to transition to a new organisational structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and to establish military corps. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
