Ukrainian soldiers on Azovstal plant
A part of wounded soldiers and doctors were taken from the Azovstal to the occupied territories of the Donetsk region a month ago. Ukraine is still going to exchange them for Russian prisoners.
What is happening today with the wounded defenders of Mariupol?
March 1, the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The occupiers surrounded Mariupol. Together with collaborators, they carried out a humanitarian catastrophe in a city unprepared for a long blockade. Now there is no water, heating, gas, and mobile communications, and the Russians are shelling buses with humanitarian aid.
The Azov National Guard Regiment has been fighting against Russian forces in the Donetsk region, including Mariupol, since 2014. Since the city was encircled, hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to hide in basements and bomb shelters with little food and water supplies. Their biggest refuge is in the basement of the Soviet Azovstal plant. The defenders held their positions there not to allow the enemy to enter Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that the garrison has completed the task; so now saving the lives of the Ukrainian military has become the priority.
The occupiers took the wounded soldiers to the so-called “DPR”. The defenders of Mariupol want to be taken to third countries and guarantee that they will not return to Ukraine by the end of the war. This practice – “extraction” – is used to save the lives of soldiers when the situation is out of control.
How can we help?
We asked Vladyslav Seleznyov, a military expert and former spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Mykola Osychenko, President of Mariupol Television, about steps to help soldiers and residents of Mariupol.
Vladislav Seleznyov:
1. Inform. First of all, we must hit informationally. Tell your friends from other countries about the Russian-Ukrainian war. Address the foreign audience and tell us about the difficulties our fighters faced in the Azovstal basement. Russia’s war against Ukraine is not forgotten just because we are talking about it.
“The war that Russia has begun against us is hybrid with a powerful information component. Every year, Russia spends about two billion dollars on its propaganda around the world, ” said Vladislav Seleznyov.
According to the expert, Ukraine is winning the informational war, because we contrast with outright lies.
2. Contact government agencies and international organizations. Sign petitions for other governments to ensure the rights of the military. Appeal to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations. There is no single template. We must use all non-prohibited methods like petitions, appeals, protests, rallies, flash mobs, etc.
3. Think twice before spreading the information. Do not publicly criticize the actions of the military. When saying “everything is gone” and “the whole country is being killed,” you are helping the Kremlin.
“It is counterproductive to spread panic and say that troops are uncontrollable, naked, and poor. We must take responsibility for the conclusions of our speeches. Every word is a weapon, it is a bullet that works either for our victory or causes irreparable damage to our military,” said the military expert.
Mykola Osychenko:
1. Assist the Azovstal military who are on territories controlled by Ukraine. There is no difference between them and the migrants from Mariupol now. Help as needed: housing and work are the first needs.
2. Inform those who stayed in Mariupol. About a hundred thousand people now do not have access to information from Ukraine. The enemy is blocking radio, Ukrainian sites, Facebook, and Instagram. Russia tells them that Kyiv has surrendered, and Zaporizhia is in hell – and Mariupol residents are afraid to evacuate so as not to come under constant fire there. Persuade them to leave.
“While it is quieter, Russian humanitarian aid is being distributed and water supply, heating, and gas are promised until the autumn. This will not happen, because the entire infrastructure is broken, and Russia has no extra money to repair it. Therefore, inform those with whom you have contact through various telegram channels that it is better in other parts of the country and that they are welcome here,” Mykola Osychenko advises.
3. Tell the truth. Communicate as much information as possible. Talk about negative cases and explain how things really are. Mariupol will compare our words with Russian propaganda. Spread the facts: the garrison in Azovstal was blocked, they defended and fought with the Russians, and the Armed Forces could not unblock the city by military means because the sky was not closed. Do not hide anything, sensible people will make their own conclusions and leave.
Due to the lack of information, the people who left Mariupol began to believe in everything the occupiers told them. There is no alternative, as well as no other opinion to compare with. Outright lies make everything clear.
“At the end of March, a woman heard a speech on Russian radio (they skillfully block ours) by Russian Defense Minister Shoigu. He said that the Russian army was hitting military targets without risking the lives of civilians. The woman saw what Russian planes had actually done to her city, and everything became clear to her, and this speech finally convinced her to go,” the President of Mariupol Television summed up.
Translator: Valeria Molderf
