Warm hugs and tears of joy: in Turkey, Azovstal soldiers met their relatives after capture
In Turkey, the fighters of Azovstal, released from Russian captivity, met with their relatives.
– Commander of the Azov National Guard regiment Denys Prokopenko (Redis), his deputy Svyatoslav Palamar, v. at. commander of the 36th separate brigade of marines Serhii Volynskyi (Volyn), senior officer of Azov Oleg Khomenko and commander of the 12th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine Denys Shlega are in Turkey under the terms of exchange under the personal guarantees of the protection of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, – the OР said in a statement.
The head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Yermak, said that during the time the soldiers were in captivity, their families also had to go through extremely difficult trials, and they coped with it with dignity.
– Your relatives fought for your release with great zeal. They have been waiting for you for so long, – he said.
In addition, the head of the OP emphasized that the families of the defenders of Azovstal are fighting for the release of all those who are still in captivity.
Yermak noted that the history of the defense of Mariupol and Azovstal has become for the whole world a testimony of the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people and will remain an example of indomitability for many generations of Ukrainians.
– Mariupol has become our Thermopylae. Like the 300 Spartans, the whole world should know about the defense and tragedy of Mariupol. But the most important thing, which I always say: the heroes must be alive, – he summarized.
Andriy Yermak thanked the fighters on behalf of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and noted that no one will be able to fully understand the trials they went through, but this experience of captivity can be used to ease the fate of other Ukrainian prisoners.
– We must release everyone who remains in Russian captivity and behind bars, everyone who was forcibly deported. You understand how important this is. People are the most valuable thing in Ukraine. And we are fighting hard for the return of every soldier and every civilian, – he said.
Photo: Olena Zelenska