Interior minister discusses operational situation, unit needs with Azov commander

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko discussed the combat situation, supply, and needs of units with commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard "Azov" Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, and also appointed new heads of the National Police and State Emergency Service in Donetsk region.

"Today I am working in Donetsk region. I introduced new heads of the regional directorates of the National Police and the State Emergency Service. Mykola Matviienko has been appointed to lead the Donetsk region police. Yakiv Nemykiv will head the regional SES directorate," the interior minister wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.

According to him, the newly appointed heads have served in Donetsk region for many years and are well acquainted with the region’s challenges.

Among the key tasks for police and SES in Donetsk region, the minister cited public safety, rapid response to threats, preservation of personnel, and clear coordination with local authorities and components of the security and defense forces.

Klymenko said he held an operational meeting with commanders of combat units of the National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and police.

"The situation on the directions was reported by commander of the 1st Corps of the NGuard ‘Azov’ Denys ‘Redis’ Prokopenko. We discussed the combat situation, supply, and needs of the units," the minister stressed.

According to Klymenko, in March alone units of the 1st Corps of the NGuard "Azov" neutralized over 2,800 occupiers, shot down over 5,000 enemy drones, struck more than 90 artillery systems and over 400 units of enemy equipment.

In addition, the minister reported on a meeting with regional leadership and frontline communities. "Since the beginning of April, Russians have shelled Donetsk region more than 120 times: 19 people were killed, another 47 were wounded. Therefore, the main security challenges remain the protection of civilians and evacuation from dangerous areas," he stressed.