The commander of the "Azov" regiment, Denys Prokopenko, made a sharp criticism of the Ukrainian negotiating team after another exchange of prisoners of war, which took place today. Speaking on his social media page, Prokopenko expressed his disappointment that none of the 900 Ukrainian servicemen held captive by Russia had been returned home. There was not a single representative of the "Azov" regiment among them.
"What is the value of all the pathetic words spoken today, if none of the 900 servicemen loyal to Ukraine, who are treated the worst in Russian captivity, have returned home?" - noted Prokopenko, emphasizing that Ukrainian society is eagerly awaiting the return of the Azov residents, who became a symbol of courage during the defense of Mariupol in 2022.
The commander of "Azov" also drew attention to the fact that the Russian prisoners themselves asked to be exchanged for Azov citizens. Prokopenko emphasized that the Ukrainian negotiating team had the opportunity to use these requests, acting from a position of strength. However, according to him, these possibilities were not implemented.
"In today's exchange, once again there is no azov. A precious chance and time have been lost," he said.
He called on Ukrainians to think about the price of independence that the country pays every day, and expressed the hope that in future negotiations for the return of prisoners they will fight with the same desperate determination as the Azov people fought for the independence of Ukraine in Mariupol.
"As you fall asleep in your cozy homes today, think about whether you really understand what independence is and whether you realize the price we pay for it," Prokopenko concluded his post.
