A large-scale rally was held in Kyiv in support of the defenders of Mariupol who are being held as prisoners of war
A large-scale rally in support of Ukrainian prisoners of war took place in Kyiv on May 19. Participants included the families of the defenders, their loved ones, and concerned citizens.
This was reported by the media.
In the morning, protesters gathered in the center of the capital on Ivan Franko Square, holding flags of the Azov unit, posters, and photos of their relatives, after which they marched to the Cabinet of Ministers.
The participants emphasize that the defenders of Mariupol did not surrender voluntarily but carried out an order from their command after 86 days of defense while completely surrounded. They also state that promises of a quick return home were not fulfilled.
“They called the captivity an evacuation and promised to bring everyone back in 3–4 months. Those 3–4 months turned into 4 years of torture and hell,” say the protesters.
According to the organizers, thousands of Ukrainian soldiers from the Mariupol garrison remain in Russian captivity, including Azov fighters, marines, National Guard members, border guards, and police officers.
Separately, it is reported that one of the rally participants, the mother of a captive, said her son is being held in the Perm region.
The rally is taking place on the fourth anniversary of the Azovstal garrison’s surrender in May 2022. In total, about 2,500 Ukrainian soldiers left the plant at that time. The report also mentions the terrorist attack in Olenivka and the lack of an independent international investigation into the tragedy.
Despite prisoner exchanges, including one in May of this year when 205 defenders returned to Ukraine, a significant portion of Mariupol’s defenders remain in Russian captivity.
We previously reported that a rally is planned for May 19 in Kyiv in support of the defenders of the Mariupol garrison, who have been held in Russian captivity for over four years.
Ukraine recently repatriated 193 servicemen from captivity.
