Some 850 Azov fighters in Russian captivity for over two and half years – brigade commander
Some 850 Azov fighters have been in the most difficult conditions in Russian captivity for more than two and a half years, commander of the 12th special forces brigade Azov Colonel Denys Prokopenko (Redis) reported.
"Behind every repelled enemy attack and every recaptured meter of Ukrainian land is the sweat, blood and life of our fighters. Thanks to their decisive actions, Ukraine celebrates its new year in free Ukrainian cities. This opportunity is denied to 850 Azov fighters, who have been in the most difficult conditions in Russian captivity for more than two and a half years," Redis wrote on Facebook.
He pointed out that through the joint efforts of various departments, 169 Azov comrades were returned from captivity in 2024. "Next year, we will continue to do everything to get all our prisoners out the hell of Russian prisons," Prokopenko emphasized.
He also recalled that this year, Azov managed to overcome a long-standing ban on receiving weapons from the United States.
"However, bureaucratic delays have somewhat slowed down the results of a tangible blow to Russian propaganda. The personnel of Azov and I personally hope that in 2025 the brigade will finally receive the weapons that it deserves like no other," the brigade commander pointed out.
"Today, the Ukrainian and global media space is saturated with confidence that the war in Ukraine will end in 2025. This conviction harms both the front and the rear," Redis noted.
According to him, this confidence gives "an illusion, calms and relaxes in a situation where relaxing means losing the state and independence."
"If the forecasts do not come true, our society will face a grave disappointment, which will hit the country's defense capability. This should not be allowed under any circumstances," he added.
In addition, as Prokopenko pointed out, any security guarantees that Ukraine may receive do not mean that Ukrainians will be able to shift responsibility for the country's defense onto the shoulders of others.
"But even if the hostilities cease in 2025, the war will not disappear. It will look at us through the eyes of our fallen brothers, remind us of itself with the ruins of Ukrainian cities, will be there in the tears of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian families who have lost the most. And it will breathe down our necks with the very fact of the existence of an enemy on our borders, who will never give up his intention to occupy Ukraine," Redis is sure.
According to him, this means that Ukraine will have no choice but to continue reforming the army, building up its military-industrial complex and preparing. "Because next time the occupier will come even stronger and even better prepared," he concluded.