The murder of 10 Greeks from Russia’s bombardment yesterday doesn’t absolve the Azov Battalion for 7-8 years of war crimes and human rights violations in Mariupol - and against the Greek community. Some might have been naive to this, but I’ve been talking about this for years.
Even in 2014 The Guardian reported the extremism of the Azov Batallion in Mariupol. That’s why the Greek villages voted (2014) to join the Donetsk People’s Republic, but their villages ended up in Azov hands. Since then the Greeks have faced major problems amp.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep…
We ignored these crimes - The UN said when compared to the previous period, there was a 51% increase in Donbass casualties between February 1 and July 31 2021, accounting for 62 killed and wounded civilians. 81% of civilians died from Ukrainian shelling. ohchr.org/Documents/Coun…
This does not absolve Russia for bombarding Greek villages leading to civilian deaths in Mariupol, but we must be very clear that the Azov Batallion is the most extremist armed force on the European continent. Greeks have suffered under them since 2014. geohistory.today/azov-movement-…
The Greeks of Mariupol have been living under these Azov Battalion scum since 2014. Let’s remember that after Azov murdered a Greek last week for speaking Russian, Dendias wanted to speak to the Ukrainian FM “to again point out” the need to protect the Greek community in Ukraine.
Let the Azov Battalion domino start falling.
"37th separate motorized infantry battalion from Zaporozhye. Donskoe, February 27."
The Azov Battalion have arrived in Mariupol and placed armoured vehicles and artillery in residential areas. Ground sources say they are using the local population as "human shields".
Read UN reports from as recently as last year, the Azov consistently use similar/such tactics.
Russian Embassy says "[Far] Right Sector" militias from Lviv arrived in Mariupol.
Many Greeks will dismiss this without question but most are ignorant on Mariupol affairs since 2014.
Only days ago Greek media was promoting the Azov battalions...
"I contacted a Greek community official in Mariupol. I pointed out the need to provide evidence for the Russian guilt of death in order to avoid further polarization of Greek society.
His answer: "first we have to talk to the Mayor of Mariupol.'"
Clarification, I meant "Right Sector" from Lviv, not Mariupool-based Azov.
A Greek community leader in Mariupol said they will start detailing all the damages (and their cost) caused by the Donbass war since 2014 in their villages and communities.
They will also for the first time count the dead.
It appears that the land bridge between Crimea and the separatists in Donbass is complete, thus resulting in Mariupol being besieged.
Stuck between Russian forces and Azov militias fighting are ethnic Greeks, Greek diplomats and journalists.
This is the Azov Battalion, the most extremist paramilitary force in Europe that Greek media only a few days ago was promoting.
Azov Battalion, in which Mariupol is one of their main hubs, indoctrinating a new generation of youth to join the most extremist paramilitary force in Europe.
Only a few days ago Greek media was promoting the Azov Battalion.
The Mayor of Mariupol has acknowledged that Europe's most extremist armed paramilitary force, the Azov Battalion, are operating in Mariupol.
Oh wow! I don't know how I missed this the entire day!
Media spoke to a Greek from Mariupol and said that the "fascist Azov Battalions" are preventing civilians from leaving the city and killing them.
When asked if he planned to leave the city, he responded “how can I leave? When you try to leave you run the risk of running into a patrol of the Ukrainian fascists, the Azov Battalion. They would kill me. They are responsible for everything." greekcitytimes.com/2022/03/01/gre…
The Azov Battalion has claimed that 200 Croatians (Ustashi sympathizers?) have joined the extremist group in Mariupol.
They swear to fight the Russians “to the last man.”
“The Donetsk People's Republic is giving the citizens of Mariupol the chance to evacuate by March 2. We guarantee the safety of the E58 highway, in the direction of Zaporozhye and in the direction of the Russian Federation.”
Ukrainian Azov aren’t allowing civilians to leave…
Donetsk military chief Pushilin: “The task for today is to take Mariupol.”
It is highly unlikely they will be able to take the city in a single (or two) day without significant bombardments which will surely lead to civilian deaths.
BREAKING: The Russian-backed Donetsk Peoples Army has captured the ethnic Greek village of Sartana in Mariupol from Ukrainian forces, including the Azov Brigade.
BREAKING: Russian forces are on the outskirts of Mariupol city & made some gains.
If the city is taken,it will get ugly and likely be a slaughter of Azov Battalion. DPR are desperate for revenge after 8 years of war crimes by the Azov (recorded by the UN) but left unpunished.
Drone footage from Shyrokyne, 23 kilometres east of Mariupol centre.
Greek media said that the Azov Battalions "have nothing to do with the [Ukrainian] government."
Oh really? Why are they a unit of The National Guard then, which is part of the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs?
One minute of research would have confirmed that.
Firefights on outskirts of Mariupol.
Destroyed Ukrainian tank in Mariupol.
The separatist Donetsk People’s Republic announced that if Ukrainian forces do not surrender Mariupol, “targeted strikes” will be launched. It’s unlikely the Azov Battalion will surrender knowing the 8-years of war crimes, including against the Greeks, they must answer for.
Topographic map of Mariupol.
Mariupol NOW.
HORRIFIC: Husband and wife tried to leave Mariupol. At a checkpoint they noticed shot bodies. When they attempted to help, the Azov Battalions shot at them.
The wife was killed & husband was wounded but now safe.
Remember the Azov are a unit of the Ukrainian Internal Ministry.
Serhii, the father of teenager Iliya, cries on his son's lifeless body on a stretcher at a maternity hospital converted into a medical ward in Mariupol, Ukraine, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. time.com/6154704/ukrain…
“The [Donetsk] People’s Militia Corps liberated all settlements in front of Mariupol (city).”
This would mean all the Greek villages of Mariupol too.
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis said last night that the vast majority of Ukrainians of Greek descent chose to remain at their homes instead of fleeing, noting, “and this is true for [Greeks in] both Odessa and Mariupol.” greekcitytimes.com/2022/03/04/gre…
Mariupol map update.
Advances made by the Russian-backed Donetsk People's Militia against the Ukrainian Army and Azov Battalions.
Footage of a missile attack on the military airfield of Mariupol on the first day of the Ukraine War - February 24, 2022.
BREAKING: Russia declares ceasefire from 10 a.m. Moscow time to allow civilians to leave Mariupol and Volnovakha - RIA
2016 UN report: "In Shyrokyne [near Mariupol],
controlled by the armed groups, OHCHR documented extensive use of civilian buildings and locations by the Ukrainian military and the Azov regiment, and looting of civilian property, leading to displacement." ohchr.org/Documents/Coun…
Greeks in Sartana (Mariupol): “Now no one asks us if you are Ukrainian or Greek, about your origin, what language you speak. The Russians do not discriminate. The Ukrainians did, they forced us to only speak Ukrainian, although I do not know it at all.”
greekcitytimes.com/2022/03/12/gre…
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