On February 26, news agency Russia Sputnik quoted a statement by Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Konashenkov as saying that Russian forces had gained full control of the southern city of Melitopol. Ukraine.
It is known that when the Ukrainian forces withdrew, they blew up the city’s transformer station and the bridges behind them. On March 14, the Russian Army continued to issue a second statement about its complete control of the Melitopol and Kherson regions.
A few hours ago, RIA Novosti had access to a document released by the FSB – namely the interrogation of Oleg Ignatov – a former soldier of the 25th Airborne Brigade (number A3840) of the Ukrainian Army stationed at the Air Base. Melitopol on the process of bases and cities falling.
Ukrainian servicemen of the 25th Brigade at Melitopol Air Base with an IL-76 transporter in the background.
It is known that a few days ago Ignatov was discovered by Russian forces while moving to the Dzhankoy checkpoint in Crimea.
According to the testimony, Mr. Ignatov said that a large number of servicemen of the 25th Brigade decided to change into civilian clothes and leave the base for the city at the time of the Russian advance:
“I think about 60% of the people (in the unit) made the decision to save their lives before…
We have suffered heavy losses and the commanders did not give clear instructions on what to do next.”
Mr. Ignatov also noted that Ukrainian units near Melitopol were not actually fighting:
“We only have machine guns and when the tanks come towards us we simply don’t know what to do. I have an AKS-74U folding stock with 4 ‘рожки’ (horns – magazine only) , I started going around collecting other ammunition boxes from the guns that were thrown away.
I also found a shotgun that an officer dropped.
After getting the APC (armored troop transport) working, we decided to change clothes and run towards the city.”
Ignatov said he contacted his mother and was offered shelter by an acquaintance in Tokmak (located about 90 minutes northeast of Melitopol).
With a population of over 150,000 people and an area of 51 square kilometers, Melitopol is the second largest city in the Zaporizhzhia region after the capital of the same name.
Melitopol is of international importance as it is the intersection of two major European roads, the E58 (Vienna – Uzhhorod – Kiev – Rostov-on-Don) and the E105 (Kirkenes – St. Petersburg – Moscow – Kiev – Yalta). . The city was also referred to as the “gateway to Crimea” until before 2014.
Melitopol is located about 2 hours drive from Mariupol (where urban fighting is currently taking place) and the loss of this pedal by the Ukrainian side to the Russians caused the southeastern Donetsk line to collapse a few days later and Moscow ended the conflict. connecting overland from Rostov to Crimea.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Soha.vn – Read the original article here
