Azov fighter: “Victory depends on the West, weapons for breakthrough”

“In three months in Mariupol the Azov regiment, made up of brave people who decided to be trained to turn ordinary people into expert soldiers, humiliated the great Russian army. What will become of us after Azovstal? We will become bigger, because we are a great family that supports each other, that defends the country to hand it over to their children. Azov is the symbol of the possibility of fighting for what you love. Our land, defended kilometer by kilometer, burning under the feet of the Russians “. At the Adnkronos, from a Zaporizhzhia defended with blood, one of the founders of the most famous regiment in Ukraine speaks, an expert fighter among the most tenacious and proud: Maksym Zhorin. “In 2014 they were among the first to form the Azov battalion – he says – I started as a private and I was part of the assault unit to free Mariupol. I then became commander in 2016 of the unit that was located in Mariupol, I I am fired to devote myself to my private business but also to politics as much as possible. When the full-scale invasion began on February 24th, along with other veterans of both Azov and other units, I helped form the units regions of the Azov regiment. I fought in Kiev until the region was completely liberated. Our unit then, with the special forces, moved to the Zaporizhzhia region where the fighting is still going on and where I am currently. ” And it was in Zaporizhzhia that the pro-Russians declared their intention to hold a referendum for annexation to Moscow. “Russia can declare anything, they are all words in the wind – replies the Azov fighter – Russia currently controls 15% of the Zaporizhzhia region, while it has been more successful in those of Kherson, Lugansk and Donetsk. However, already two weeks ago, we stopped the Russian advance and left them nothing to do but defend themselves. Every day we advance, free a village, one piece of land at a time, always ahead. The Russians in the lands they have occupied are trying to legitimize the their presence, begging for support without success: the local people look at them with hatred, continuing to demonstrate despite the risks to their lives.For our part we can count on our partisans, located in the occupied territories to avoid the legalization of the siege through referendums. And it is certain, every kilometer of our land will burn under the feet of the Russians “. ‘imminent victory depends on the West, weapons necessary for a breakthrough’ On the accusations made against Azov of being a Nazi army, Zhorin to the Adnkronos says: “Our regiment includes Muslims, Christians, Jews, atheists who fight closely, who command unity, fighting united for Ukraine. The demonization of Azov began after the first successes at the front: the Russians saw us as a new, strong unit, made up of people united in the name of the homeland, at first not even military but mere engineers, traders, trained and become experienced soldiers. The criticisms in our comforts have widened thanks to Russian propaganda to prevent our access to aid and the possibility of being trained by NATO to improve. Despite this the regiment is among the most not only in Ukraine, we have nothing to do with the Nazis, we have never claimed to invade other territories, we just want to fight for our beloved homeland. The Russians are the real racists, ‘rushists’ as we call them. “So many losses, it is difficult to consider the heroic resistance as lasting.” One third of the Azov unit deployed in Mariupol is dead – explains the fighter – the recovery of the soldiers continues. bodies from Azovstal, not only fighters from the regiment but also from the national police, navy and border guard. Yesterday we managed to recover another 60 bodies while 160 of our victims were exchanged with as many Russians, despite the enemy’s unwillingness to take them back. The negotiations for the prisoners under Russian control are ongoing, their conditions are almost acceptable, they have the minimum of food and water to survive, however more than they had available in Mariupol. “” The weapons that are arriving are not enough . They should arrive faster, to change the course of the war. I do not see a quick solution to this situation, but we will fight until victory – reiterates Zhorin – this war or any other that Russia has in mind that certainly will not stop with Ukraine and will be stopped only when we win. We are not fighting only for our territories but for all civilization, considering that Putin with the plans he has in mind will hardly avoid attacking other countries. The West bears the responsibility for a quick victory with fewer losses. If they remain on the sidelines to observe, there will be the new Bucha, Cernihiv or Mariupol. Victory is certain, the question is time “. (By Silvia Mancinelli)