In a new interview published on the Special Operations Forces YouTube channel, V. Chorenka revealed that the Ukrainians voluntarily flew to defend Azovstal and admitted that he was faced with the need to make very difficult decisions.
“Our main task was to deliver ammunition by helicopter. But when 10 volunteers come and say: “We want to fly to defend Azovstal”, difficult decisions have to be made. What to deliver: food, medical equipment, communication equipment or people?”, said V. Chorenka.
He also pointed out that such challenges arose when the plane carried 15 tons of cargo and one helicopter could only take about two people.
“The operation took a few minutes, and the unloading should not have taken more than 10 minutes,” the officer said.
The major general noted that seven successful special forces raids were conducted. V. Chorenka communicated directly with the commander of the special forces brigade “Azov” Denis Prokopenka, who at the time did not even understand that he was talking to the commander of the special forces.
He refused to surrender
Oleksandr Ivantsov, a Ukrainian soldier with the nickname “Vostok”, revealed in an earlier interview with the YouTube channel Pressing that he hid underground for a week in Mariupol, and then traveled 200 km through the occupied territories, but did not surrender to Russian troops.
Oleksandr, who previously served in the Azov brigade and worked abroad before the start of the large-scale invasion, in 2022. returned to Ukraine in February to fight Russian forces. The man explained that he would never forgive himself if he had acted differently.
AP/Scanpix/Ukraine soldier
Upon his return, he decided to join the groups of volunteers who were being transported by helicopter to the already surrounded Mariupol.
According to him, at that time the city was already surrounded by Russian soldiers. The soldier went there wearing civilian clothes, he didn’t even have a military uniform – they only had a jacket. A bulletproof vest and a helmet were put on him, and a Kalashnikov and a bag with four magazines were put in his hands.
The fighter noted that he managed to hide in “Azovstal” because the territory is large – it is like a city within a city. There is no shortage of hiding places.
Together with a friend, Oleksandr found a sewer hatch and something like a small low tunnel. Later, they brought there the essentials, water, sugar, some canned goods and the like. At the last moment, the friend changed his mind – and Vostok was left alone.
Video frame/Azovstal is attacked with incendiary or phosphorus bombs
The soldier thought a lot in his hiding place, tried to sleep more so that time would pass faster. On the seventh day, the fighter decided to leave. The invading Russians, he said, were loud, walking around with torches, so he managed to move secretly. Oleksandr noticed that it was a short distance from the city, but it was a long walk. It only reached him in the morning.
How exactly the Ukrainian defender crossed the occupied territory was not reported in the interview, but he described more details in his book. Currently, Oleksandr has already returned to service and is fighting in the 3rd Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Azovstal” tragedy
In the first months of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, reports appeared in the Russian public space that Ukrainian helicopters had been shot down while approaching Mariupol. At that time, the Ukrainian side did not approve any special operations to support the defenders of the besieged city.
AFP/”Scanpix” photo/Pro-Russian soldiers searched Ukrainian soldiers who left “Azovstal”
May President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed for the first time that the Ukrainian Air Force had carried out combat flights and admitted that many Ukrainian pilots had been killed trying to break into Azovstal. According to him, the defenders of Mariupol were supplied with food and medicine, and an attempt was made to take the wounded, but at that time it was not possible to officially comment on the operations, because Russian anti-aircraft defense was operating in the area.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbZvhSmiKag
According to Kyryl Budanov, head of Ukrainian defense intelligence, there were a total of seven such missions, with 16 Mi-8 helicopters flying to Azovstal, including reinforcements for the Azov regiment. However, two helicopters were shot down during the fifth and seventh missions. The Russians also shot down another helicopter flying to rescue one of the crew.
At the end of May last year, military intelligence released a unique video of Ukrainian aviation flights to Azovstal. Later, the details of the pilots’ raids on the Mariupol fortress factory were revealed.
Battles have been taking place on the territory of the Mariupol metallurgical plant “Azovstal” since 2022. March 18 until May 20
May 16 The Ukrainian leadership ordered the defenders of Azovstal to save their lives, after which the soldiers laid down their weapons and surrendered to Russian forces. According to the latest data, about 2,500 soldiers have left the territory of the factory, and the Ukrainian side is trying to get them back. A large part of the soldiers, including commanders led by D. Prokopenka, have already returned to Ukraine after the exchange of prisoners.
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