Posted on 05/16/2022 5:26:33 PM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
On Monday, May 16, some of the defenders of the azovstal iron and steel works were taken to the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region. Subsequently, they will be exchanged for prisoners of the Russian invaders.
This information was confirmed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a video message to the Ukrainian people (to view it, scroll to the end of the page). Among the soldiers there are seriously wounded, they are receiving medical assistance.
"Thanks to the actions of the Ukrainian military – the Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence, as well as the negotiation group, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, we hope that we will be able to save the lives of our children...I want to emphasize that Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle. I think that every adequate person will understand these words," the head of state said. Video of the day
He noted that the work on the return of Ukrainian soldiers home continues. This work requires delicacy and time.
Note that the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported the following: 53 seriously wounded Ukrainian soldiers were evacuated from Azovstal to a medical facility in Novoazovsk. Another 211 people were taken to Yelenovka via the humanitarian corridor.
For the subsequent return of Fighters home, an exchange procedure will be carried out.
Zelensky also said that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back constant attacks in those areas where Russia is still trying to attack. According to him, Severodonetsk and other cities of Donbass are still the main target for the invaders.
"We are doing everything possible to protect our land and our people," he stressed.
Earlier, the commander of the Azov Regiment, Denis Prokopenko, whose military personnel are on the defensive at Azovstal, appealed to the Ukrainian people. He recalled that for 82 days the defenders of Mariupol held the defense and pulled back significant enemy forces in order to allow Ukraine to gain time and get Western weapons.
Now the entire Mariupol garrison" for the sake of saving lives fulfills the approved decision of the high military command " and asks Ukrainians for support.
Subsequently, Reuters reported that about ten buses left the territory of the azovstal iron and steel works, filled with evacuated people. Among them are military personnel who were seriously injured. It was reported that they were taken to the temporarily occupied Novoazovsk in the Donetsk region.
As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the mother of the defender of Mariupol spoke about the terrible situation at the azovstal iron and steel works. According to her, amputations of wounded soldiers are performed without anesthesia, since there are no medicines.
VIDEO
Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. Vladimir Zelensky’s Appeal 16.05.2022
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXKNrdjkQlM
Although they are calling it a SURRENDER, they SURRENDERED. And, IMHO, there’s no shame in that when a unit is out of all means to fight/resist. It’s kinda funny to see Zelenskyy change his tune to “we need our heroes alive”.
Office Of The President Of Ukraine
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“It’s not an easy day. But this day, like all others, is aimed at protecting our country and our people. Thanks to the actions of the Ukrainian military – the Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence, as well as the negotiation group, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, we hope that we will be able to save the lives of our children.
I want to emphasize that Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle. I think that every adequate person will understand these words.” Address of the president of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky on the results of the 82nd day of the war.
The same guys who were threatening to kill him five year ago?
Oops… meant to say they are NOT calling it a surrender.
Sounds like the DNC focus-group tested Zelensky’s statement before sending it to him.
The best way to keep them alive is to negotiate a peace. Ukraine cannot win this war. The best outcome would be a status quo ante bellum.
They are prisoners and are being sent to the Donetsk republic...to be very, very carefully investigated. War criminals will be punished, severely. Unlike Russia herself, Donetsk has the death penalty most actively on the books.
This somewhat doesn’t make sense.
“Evacuation” seems to mean they were sent to Russian occupied locations. As for exchange, presumably for Russian soldiers held captive, why bother?
POWs are released after wars are over. This exchange stuff is not normal procedure.
Note that in WW II the Soviets did not release lower ranks of the German 6th Army at Stalingrad until 1949. The war was over 1945. Senior officers were not released until 1955. The most senior of those officers never returned to Germany. He lived out his life in Russia. Other officers returned to what was East Germany and most became senior pro Soviet East German govt officials.
This exchange stuff is just the latest bizarre scenario floated by . . . someone. Why would POWs be sent back to resume fighting?
“The best way to keep them alive is to negotiate a peace. Ukraine cannot win this war. The best outcome would be a status quo ante bellum.”
Agree: Russia withdraws to pre-2014 status.
” The most senior of those officers never returned to Germany. He lived out his life in Russia.”
Not true. Friedrich Paulus died in East Germany in 1957.
No evacuation to fight again. They have to surrender and go into the pens to get sorted for war crimes. The Nazis are caught in the kessle just like Paulus.
“The best outcome would be a status quo ante bellum.”
I agree with you, but DC & Kiev say “Nyet.”
Zelensky and DC want Crimea and two other regions back for Ukraine.
The war must go on until these objectives are met.
The Ukraine & US formalized our “ad hoc” alliance in 2008 & 2021 with two documents being signed by both parties.
Those documents are called “US Ukraine Charter for Strategic Partnership.”
We’ve an alliance with Ukraine, an alliance many Americans don’t know or care about.
Agree: Russia withdraws to pre-2014 status.
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So the Ukies can start shelling the ethnic Russians in the Donbass provinces all over again? The Donbass declared their Independence from Ukraine in 2014/15,
a major factor in this regional conflict.
“POWs are released after wars are over. This exchange stuff is not normal procedure.”
They’re simply repeating US talking points designed to make it sound like some kind of mutual cease fire...basically a draw.
Bottom line is that everyone down there will be ‘processed’ by Russia and the legitimate Ukrainian fighters will be returned after the war, but the Azovs will be tried in Moscow (or somewhere in Russia/Greater Russia) and be sentenced for their pre-war behavior.
He doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the fighters, he’s being pressured by NATO because they have some high ranking intelligence and military officials stuck there that they don’t want captured by the Russians.
So it goes back to the status quo before Russia stirred up the civil war.
We’ve an alliance with Ukraine, an alliance many Americans don’t know or care about.
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Exactly, Ukraine has absolutely no strategic value to us, much like Libya, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan…..so the war cheerleaders keep poking the bear….
WHY? This Is vegetable head Biden’s war, don’t get sucked in.
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