The defense of Mariupol and the military was led by the National Guard, said the captured brigade commander

Destroyed military equipment on the street in Mariupol. File photoDONETSK, May 8.The defense of Mariupol and the military was led by the commander of the National Guard brigade, which includes «Azov» (a criminal case has been initiated against his fighters in the Russian Federation), «this is strange, usually the opposite is true,» follows from the testimony of the captured commander of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Vladimir Baranyuk, a video with which was filmed in one of the settlements of the DPR. The highest command staff of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian troops — the brigade commander, Hero of Ukraine Colonel Vladimir Baranyuk and the chief of staff Colonel Dmitry Kormyankov — was captured after trying to leave the Azovmash plant, which is located northwest of Azovstal, they have already testified about the circumstances of their capture and their conduct of hostilities in Mariupol.The Armed Forces of Ukraine were not preparing for battles in Mariupol, the captive colonel said «Periodically … the regiment, or rather, not the regiment, the Azov battalion was organizationally part of the structure of the 12th brigade of the National Guard. Initially … Initially, the Mariupol defense headquarters was, well, in the center city, I can’t tell you the exact address. Then he moved to (the plant — ed.) Azovstal. Accordingly, I came there for various coordination moments related to interaction and certain joint work. Let’s say, our joint work,” Baranyuk said. “The Azov Battalion is a structure of the National Guard of Ukraine. That is, it is a structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. We are under the command of the Naval Forces of Ukraine, a structure of the Ministry of Defense. That is, we are absolutely in different, let’s say … well, in different structures, let’s call it that,” he added. It seems that if I go to Mariupol, I am the boss to some extent. Accordingly, I, well, according to the military hierarchy, receive orders from him. In addition, from the commander of the operational-tactical grouping,» the colonel explained the subordination structure in Mariupol. According to Baranyuk, it's usually the other way around.» But if so, let's say, the more senior boss indicated, accordingly, no problems. Moreover, I initially received, as it were, my own line of defense. And, accordingly, the commander of the 12th brigade did not intervene further there. That is, I completely organized all the moments there on my own,» the captive commander of the Marines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine concluded. colonel