The Russian occupiers want to hold a demonstrative lynching of the captured defenders of Mariupol on the Independence Day of Ukraine. Against the backdrop of these intentions of the invaders, the security and defense forces of Ukraine appealed to the international community to influence the situation and prevent this blatant violation of international norms and rules of warfare.
On August 12, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published a joint statement by law enforcement agencies regarding the captured defenders of Mariupol.
Text of the statement:
The rescue operation of 2.5 thousand defenders of Mariupol was the only possible option to save the lives of our Heroes. There was no alternative to the type of extraction (a tactical procedure that consists in the rapid removal of both military and civilians from enemy territory to a safe place - ed.), there was a choice: a rescue operation or death at Azovstal, primarily of the seriously wounded, because the stocks of necessary medicines ended.
It was the seriously wounded that we were the first to save during the exchange in June: 144 people, of which 95 are the defenders of Mariupol, have already been returned. Most of them were seriously injured. At the moment, they received the necessary medical care and rehabilitation.
All state institutions are working to return the Heroes of Mariupol and all Ukrainians held captive by the enemy. The coordinating headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war continues to work 24/7 to release the Ukrainian Defenders and Defenders from captivity, to search for persons missing under special circumstances.
At the same time, we maintain contact with the families of captured servicemen and fulfill our obligations for their social protection.
Meanwhile, the Russian Federation does not adhere to its obligations, neglects agreements, does not recognize international norms and rules of warfare. Given this, the issue of prisoner exchange is complex and sensitive.
For its part, Ukraine is constantly strengthening public communication with our partners, appealing to international organizations and world leaders, drawing the attention of the world to the actions that the enemy is doing with the Ukrainian military being held captive.
We call on the entire civilized world to prevent the trial announced by the executioners in Mariupol over the Ukrainian Defenders and Defenders.
We demand to immediately send representatives of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross to the places where Ukrainian prisoners of war are being held, primarily Olenevka.
Recall that the leader of the so-called DPR, Denis Pushilin, confirmed preparations for lynching of the Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol. To do this, the invaders on the stage of the Mariupol Chamber Philharmonic collect prison cells.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation recognized the Ukrainian Azov Regiment as an alleged “terrorist organization” and banned it from the country.
As you know, the military of the Russian Federation carried out targeted artillery shelling of a correctional institution in the village of Alenovka, Donetsk region, where, among other things, Ukrainian prisoners were kept. The invaders thus want to hide the torture of prisoners and executions.
In response, the “Azov” regiment announced a hunt for all those involved in the massacre of captured “Azov” in Olenovka on July 29. The Ukrainian military is collecting information about the victims and perpetrators of this war crime.
Source: PRM
