The chaplain, Olexander Chokov, is actually one of many priests associated Virozub
“The fresh new marines said that they had come bombed and that the fresh new Moskva cruiser got discharged numerous salvos. Exactly what was the brand new people to-do?” told you Chokov. “They had absolutely nothing to struggle with, just server weapons and small-arms.
“This new chief decided, took duty to save the brand new lifestyle of one’s 80 individuals who were towards the island. They raised the white banner and you may surrendered.”
You to definitely night, the fresh Ukrainian inmates have been moved to Simferopol airport and loaded onto an enthusiastic Il-76 armed forces flights. Virozub measured in the 200 anybody onboard – the latest Serpent Island group, the new Sapphire’s team, and additionally Ukrainian soldiers have been seized throughout the Kherson part.
Serhiy Rylsky, who had been accountable for the newest lighthouse for the Serpent Island, recalls the plane got on the Russian city of Kursk, where prisoners was in fact delivered to a good tent go camping. Virozub says the fresh camp was in this new town off Shebekino, from the Russian edging region of Belgorod. Once per week on the camp, the brand new inmates was indeed taken to a good pre-trial detention hub in the city out-of Stary Oskol, inside the Belgorod.
‘Please provide father home’
It actually was an issue of days up until the very first inmates had been create. Rylsky, the latest lighthouse movie director, spent a month from inside the Russian captivity, coming back family to the twenty four March. The guy prices one to 30 some one, mainly civilians, was indeed exchanged on that go out. The team incorporated the fresh team of Sapphire – however new priests while the doc just who followed her or him.
Olexander Mutichko, elderly secretary head on Sapphire, states they certainly were exchanged into the mostly Russian staff of your own tanker Millennial Heart, who were caught because of the Ukrainian forces when you look at the later February.
Three days pursuing the exchange, Volodymyr Zelenskyi is actually asked during the an interview about previous profile one the defenders regarding Serpent Island got all of the become slain. Now, the guy said that only some of them got died, and therefore others had just returned domestic.
“Russia came out using this type of suggestion. We replaced her or him without doubt. That’s it. Individuals who passed away was, frankly, heroes. And people who survived – we replaced him or her,” brand new president told you.
In the February, following the Zelenskyi’s statement, the new prisoners’ friends obtained calls off Ukraine’s County Recommendations Agency, hence collects information about captured troops.
Two sets of grabbed soldiers have guatemala chat room without registration been returned when you look at the transfers the next week. Bohdan Hotskyi, master of border shields, returned home with the 19 April.
Your medical professional as well as 2 of the priests who had been into panel this new Sapphire were including replaced within the April. However, Virozub, new priest, was just put-out in-may, immediately after 68 days for the captivity.
Considering Hotskyi, the newest edging shield captain, 19 people in their edging guard party are for the captivity up to now.
“I really hope he’s create. We query every competent government locate in this process, while they [the defenders] come in captivity for over half a year,” he said.
Loved ones of your own caught defenders was welcome to help you Kyiv towards 5 Sep meet up with authorities within Complimentary Head office to your Procedures out-of Prisoners out of War, which has total duty for Ukrainian POWs. Pursuing the conference, family unit members advised Graty you to definitely 30 marines stayed in the captivity – up to 29 October, when one of them was launched thru a prisoner replace that have Russia. Now, 47 Serpent Area personnel are inside the Russian captivity.
“My personal child and his wife recently had a baby boy. He was six months dated when his dad went along to the newest area,” told you Tetiana Mykolaivna, mother of marine Olexander Kardashev. “The guy does not even understand the kid has had 1st methods, that he is just starting to speak, which he has had 1st teeth.