#freeazovstaldefenders, Azovstal, Olenivka, Kremlin propaganda
kremlin propaganda is actively spreading false theses about the defenders of the city of Mariupol and the Azovstal plant (the largest enterprise in the city). They are accused of treason, terrorism, killing civilians. In fact, these statements are lies. The anniversary of the defenders' exit from "Azovstal" is another reason to remind the world about the feat of the Ukrainian military. We must do everything possible for their release. We must tirelessly remind the world of russia's violation of international law. The support of the international community and the dissemination of the truth is critical to combating russian propaganda.
What is important to know
The defenders of Mariupol, most of whom were soldiers of the "Azov" regiment, during the height of the russian offensive on the city, retreated to the fortifications of the "Azovstal" plant, where they held the defense for 82 days. With limited resources and numerous wounded, they withstood the continuous attacks of the russian army, which used artillery, airstrikes and tanks, and protected and helped the civilian population, who also took refuge in the basements of Azovstal. The defense of Azovstal ended on May 16, 2022, when the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ordered the defenders to lay down their weapons in order to save their lives. Then, with the help of the international community, an agreement was reached with the leadership of russia to preserve the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
After being captured, many defenders of "Azovstal" were transported to the prison in Olenivka (temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk region). On July 29, 2022, a terrorist attack took place there, during which the Russians killed more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners of war. To date, more than 700 soldiers of the "Azov" regiment remain in captivity (for more than 2 years) in inhumane conditions - with torture and torture, with fabricated court cases. Most of the "Azovs" who were returned during the exchange of prisoners were in terrible physical condition. All of them confirmed the facts of torture, torture, psychological and physical abuse.
The main slogan of the kremlin "Azov - neo-Nazis"
This slogan appeared at the beginning of the Ukrainian-russian war, when "Azov" as a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine stood up to defend its country. Attention: a unit of state law enforcement agencies stood up to protect its country and its citizens. And not "went to Donbas to kill russians," as russian propaganda claims. "Azov", like all armed forces, opposed exclusively terrorist armed formations from russia, which invaded the territory of a sovereign state, and never terrorized the civilian population, in Donbas or anywhere else. The only nuance is that the Azovians really effectively destroyed the occupiers and terrorists, up to the exit from Mariupol. And this was very painfully perceived in the kremlin, whose leaders declared "Azov" a terrorist organization, and its representatives the main targets of their own cannibalism. Propaganda was and is being built around them all these 10 years. After 2022, the term "neo-Nazis" is regularly used by kremlin leaders to justify aggression against Ukraine.
Moreover, russian propaganda blames the defenders of Mariupol for the destruction of this city and the mass murders of the local population, although everything happened on the contrary. The film "20 days in Mariupol" (https://www.20daysinmariupol.com/) tells more about the defense of Mariupol, which won an Oscar nomination in 2024, which angered the monsters from russia even more.
The "Azov" regiment really has a particular ideology, which consists in an unyielding fight against any threats for the preservation of Ukraine. "Azov" never operated outside the state. Never in the statutes and objectives of this military unit was the goal of destroying a certain nation or state. On the contrary, the representatives of "Azov" now interact perfectly with Jews, Belarusians, Russians, Georgians, Chechens, Poles, British and representatives of other countries who voluntarily came to Ukraine to fight against the terrorist forces of russia.More about Azov: https://www.kyivpost.com/videos/32454
Conclusion
At the international level, "Azov" is not recognized as a terrorist organization. And only russia sees this structure as the main component for its own propaganda with all the consequences. In fact, the leadership of the Kremlin does not allow even the Red Cross and UN missions to visit the defenders of Mariupol prisoners of war. Not to mention the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Prisoners. Why so? Because moscow desperately hides the truth and its crimes.
Share this material with your friends. Spread the tag #freeazovstaldefenders on social networks. Help Ukraine to return its defenders from captivity. Help stop the source of chaos and evil.