Russian military personnel. File photoMELITOPOL, Apr 9The Ukrainian military, who survived the crash of a downed helicopter, on which it was planned to evacuate the leaders of the neo-Nazi Azov regiment from Mariupol, expressed gratitude to the Russian servicemen and doctors who saved them. A video with these confessions is at the disposal of RIA Novosti. Two Ukrainian Mi-8s were shot down on April 5 while trying to break into Mariupol. On board one of the helicopters were flight engineer Captain Dmitry Burlakov and gunner Ivan Gavrilenko. Now they are being treated at the Russian military hospital in Melitopol and thank their saviors. «Thank you very much. They took me near the helicopter lying <…> They didn't let me die,» Burlakov said. Gavrilenko also uttered words of gratitude. Burlakov at the moment admitted to the hospital, he was in a serious condition, but he was provided with qualified assistance, now his condition is stable, the hospital doctor said on the video. As for Gavrilenko, he was diagnosed with numerous shrapnel wounds and large burns — 55-60 percent. «At present, doctors are fighting for his life, all the necessary medical qualified assistance is being provided, his condition is stabilizing,» the medical worker added.
The names of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who failed the evacuation of the leaders of Azov were named people «who for eight years have been subjected to harassment, genocide by the Kiev regime.» As the Ministry of Defense stated, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops. By March 25, they completed the main tasks of the first stage — they significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
