Valentyn Semehen
21 Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade
The defenders of Mariupol spend almost all their time in the Azovstal dungeons. Due to the bombing, every exit to the surface is a life-threatening mission.
Here is the extract from the diary of Lieutenant Colonel Vasyl “Domakha” Bohach, SBU, Hero of Ukraine. Following his injury, he was in a hospital set up in an underground bunker of Azovstal. In his story, Bohach mentions Russian prisoners, therefore we should explain whom he was describing.
In the first days of March, after the unit of the 150th Motor Rifle Division tried to break through from the airport, several Russian soldiers were captured by the Ukrainian defenders. They were 26-year-old Lieutenant Anton from Orenburg and Private Akim from the city of Shakhty in Rostov Oblast. They regularly recorded videos with them to prove that the prisoners were alive and not being tortured. In his diary, “Domakha” paid a lot of attention to the stories about the prisoners: their meals, their smoke breaks, and their communication.
On March 30, a group of defenders was forced to move to another shelter together with the prisoners, and at 03:40 p.m., they were attacked. Vasyl Bohach and the Russian Anton were severely injured. Akim was killed, thrown 20 meters by the explosion. Later, there were two new prisoners with Anton in the bunker: a career officer and a DPR soldier. Bohach described them in the entry dated April 22, 2022.
video by Azov
April 22In the morning, about ten planes bombed us. Morning activities. Bandaging. “Hussar” presented me with awesome combat boots. “Apis” and “Buryi” went out of the bunker. Another airstrike. This time – on us. The bunker held out. Suddenly – the command “all clear, air raid alert is canceled.” Literally everyone was fucking shocked!!! We hadn't heard anything like that in a long time. We were joking that Apis and Buryi shot down the plane, which fell on our location. Humor and good mood. Now we have to wait for their return...
I went to the prisoners: Anton was glad to see us, the fragments, he has already started walking, Denis is also glad, and that daredevil from Khartsyzk even wanted to shake hands. Maybe we should hug him? I told him to “f*ck off.” We talked about an exchange, but only Russians, not anyone accused of treason. He started telling me that he had a Russian passport. But did he renounce Ukrainian citizenship? No. That makes heim a traitor.
Video by Buryi
At night, aviation was active again. Buryi says that the Russians have installed anti-sniper systems on the high-rise building, which effectively detect and track any movement at the plant. They found an underground tunnel connecting one bunker with another. Still, you have to walk 200 meters in both directions in the end. Today we noticed the guidance wire from an ATGM (up to 4,500 meters) and hits from an SPG.
I told the guys a story about Navislav the Sorcerer. They made two models of planes with “Khvat,” and drew the stars of the Russian Air Force – they and their pilots were punished by Perun's lightning. They experienced the punishment of the cossack enchanters and the strength of the people of Ukraine! They are destroyed and are in the garbage. What's important is to believe... This is what victory is!!!
April 23Commands “Air raid! Air raid!” We sit in protective gear… The wounds are healing, but when you walk they open up again. I feel unpleasant pain everywhere but I have to move. We seem to have a 2 hour ceasefire. At least that's what they said on the radio. The Russians asked for it to collect their KIAs and MIAs. All at Azovstalska Street. Redis commanded: if there is any combat movement in our direction – shoot to kill. So far, it's quiet.
Something fell somewhere a couple of times. I walked 1,200 steps. I shouldn't pity myself. I went to record a video with Anton. Tea. The cat came to play with a lid. Everyone's on their phones and “Air raid! Air raid!”
Бій за Маріуполь не завершився – стверджує командир «Азова»
Костянтин Немічев, який очолює підрозділ «Кракен» батальйону «Азов», сказав, що його війська «виконують величезну та важливу місію» в обложеному портовому місті Маріуполь.
April 24Information about twelve Tupolev Tu-22M3s. We studied the characteristics and realized that if we were hit, everything would end quickly. Buryi and Apis are out there. I hope they are somewhere in a tunnel or a bunker. Different guys: young, old, bearded, small, giants, each in individual armor, some with a rolled flag, some with a minimum of stuff. The same with the girls: all are different but you can't imagine them without a uniform. Helmets, glasses, body armor, different uniforms and shoes. IQOS devices and vapes... Someone laughs, and someone is tight. Everything is mixed. Still, one thing unites them all: will and loyalty to the oath given to the people.
Khvat held a meeting and asked who wished to change the four snipers. Six volunteered. He left two. He appointed the senior one and took him to the individual briefing. The ground began to shake. We could feel vibrations in the earth. Far away. On the radio, we could hear that ATGM missed the plane due to it being too high. The missile failed to launch. Again, thoughts of Buryi and Apis. Two bombs hit closer. The floor was shaking. Given the wounds, each shock felt like a thousand needles were stuck into you. Every new sound (even a loud crackle) made you shudder. Over time, fear turns into numbness. According to my calculations, 7-8 planes had already finished bombing. Almost an hour had passed…
The guys haven't returned yet. I've never thought it would be so hard to wait. I wish I could walk... Evening PT routine: 40 steps in one direction, 5 times 10 squats, as much as I can, a total of 25 times back and forth, and 2,000 steps. The prisoners called: they complained they had no meals today. I said we also have not eaten yet. We eat once a day. The traitor complained that “Kraken” brings small meals. So, I gave him a lecture about the difference between enemies who came to our land and traitors to their land. Even enemies do not respect traitors.
video from representatives of the aggressor country
