Dmitry Steshin and Alexey Ovchinnikov
[KP] ANGRY AT NAZIS BUT BELIEVE IN PROPAGANDA
Exploring the cellars of the newly liberated "Azovstal," we accidentally stumbled upon a book in a black cover. They opened it and gasped: the book turned out to be a diary, which was kept by one of the inmates of the cellars of the Mariupol plant.
The diary, written in Ukrainian, although it covers a short period - from May 1 to May 17 - but details the conditions of stay in the bunkers: how they got food, got angry at the well-fed and clean "Azov", believed Ukrainian propaganda - in a "happy ship ”, which will take the inmates of Azovstal to the“ evacuation ”, and then they were preparing for surrender.
We have translated this diary from Ukrainian.
From the captured diary:
It is already May, and there is no end in sight to our problems in the environment. Today there was a message about the evacuation of civilians and on the radio they talked about the end of the truce and silence. Most likely, a new, more powerful series of air raids (air bombings. - Ed.) is starting.
The next day, a two-day watch with Koval's group. After four days in the bunker, this is very useful, because here you already want to howl from boredom and hopelessness, and the food is like that, even cry from resentment. We won’t see the Internet anyway, because the authorities don’t care, and on duty in the daylight you feel like a person, and not some kind of rat.
While silence, climbed to the surface. Today we remembered the May Day celebrations in peacetime - barbecue, sunshine and even the opening of the swimming season. How far away is this...
Today I had the opportunity to go online, watch the news. About the adoption of equipment, tanks, artillery and aircraft (apparently, we are talking about the supply of weapons by the West. - Ed.). According to forecasts, in May in Russia they should understand that the matter did not burn out. Even if they mobilize all resources, Ukraine will increase the pressure.
Something flew very well over the bunker in our workshop, dust rose into the air. I moved into the room to "Rezol." But when I looked around, I saw that a large beam was hanging directly overhead. I decided to move to the bench, so calmer.
Today we were going to sort out the rubble over the "shop" with products , where everyone is grazing a little. But the shelling got in the way, you need to move along the street, and these are big risks, especially with such a crowd. So with the products are so-so. Today there was even borscht for lunch, but portions were half a bowl. We save water, give one and a half liters for two days to each.
How glad I am that I do not have the humiliating desire to look for cigarette butts, so many people do.
"ALL TOBACCO FROM" BUCKS "WERE PULLED"
May 3, 2022.
I sawed firewood during the day, there is enough here - the boards and beams are prepared, only the saw is dull. I managed to drink a couple of cups of tea in a day. The problem with water and the queue for the kettle. With sugar too.
One of our positions, "Kommunalnaya," has access to the river. Our Marines set up fish nets there, and Hans saw them out yesterday to collect the catch.
We eat fast, twice a day. There is trouble with the smoking, all the tobacco from the bulls has long been pulled out, the newspapers are spinning.
My main joy is that Palych showed me SMS from his wife saying that everything is fine with them, they love me very much and are waiting for me. Calmed down. Returned from position. I had to kick the dog out of my place. The white dog, who was considered a Labrador, turned out to be a Rottweiler, now he is not white, covered in mud and fuel oil. I don’t know what he eats, he himself has nothing to eat, but he doesn’t leave.
"NO HOPE, MINIMUM PRODUCTS"
05/04/2022.
The lads with Koval returned, they said that there was a heavy mortar attack, one was wounded, Koval was also slightly hooked. The situation is acute. All shelters were dismantled by shelling from tanks and armored personnel carriers.
No news, no evacuation. The unknown is stressful. We need to hold on, but there is no hope. There are still products, but at a minimum.
Eloquent footage from a photo report about the life of the "Azov" and the fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the basements of Azovstal.
The prospect of getting out of here is increasingly impossible. It is becoming clearer that we are becoming some kind of bargaining chip. Perhaps this is the piece that Russia will be satisfied with and stop hostilities in Ukraine, taking Azovstal and the Azov people.
We'll just go to the slaughter or humiliating captivity because it looks like we've been forgotten. Today Oleg Kadolba looked a little on the Internet, there are messages about Mariupol from Zelensky: he said that not a day goes by that he does not think about the evacuation. But these are just empty words.
It would be nice to wash off the dirt, because there are only napkins (more precisely, medical masks instead of napkins), and there is very little water in general.
Dreams are somehow torn - trampling, explosions, constant noise of units that pass almost over heads back and forth at night. Thoughts only about the house, delicious food, smoking.
In the 7th company they promised a truce. Upon the return of the platoon commander and the "Archie" group, it remained to wait for the completion of the shelling and the planned sortie to "store 10" (a food warehouse. - Ed.). We went there in two groups (ours had 20 people), but without armor. It was good, because by the time we got there (almost 3 km), I was worn out. There was a tour of the ruins of the plant. The scale of destruction is impressive, the greatness of the broken giant, everything is torn apart.
In order to get food, you need to dismantle the blockages of concrete and brick, under all this to find something that they did not have time to endure before us. This "shop" has been dismantled for more than a week. They pull out sacks of cereals and peas, somewhere they found stew ...
But everyone was more interested in the half-burnt refrigerator. The meat in it burned down, but butter, cheese, sausage and frozen fish were preserved. This stink cannot be expressed in words - from rotten fish that needs to be dug up, because the sausage is vacuum-packed below. And melted butter. Nauseous, but what to do. They collected everything else they could eat. At the base, I had to get rid of the form and wash for a long time, but still, everything was saturated with rotten meat.
"Rostik" told me that the day after tomorrow he had to go on duty with "Kolyaka", because he was dropping out of the team. Blame it all on the “rastamania” that has blossomed wildly in the positions of the Marines and others. "Grass" has become a hot commodity, a bargaining chip. Of course, this is not good for the service. Our young people make a profit on this for the platoon - they changed products. Well done.
"WE ARE LOSSERS FOR THEM"
05/07/2022.
The second day the cooks try to make the most of the sausage that we brought (two-thirds of the brats was thrown out anyway - unusable). Roast and add everywhere. I remember Shevchenko's "for a piece of rotten sausage."
Sausage reference:
We live on the bare minimum. Something, but we are definitely not fulfilling the combat missions that the state needs here, we are just sitting under siege.
We often have Marines from the 36th Brigade. Those who were abandoned to the mercy of fate by the brigade commander. We often talk about the "Azovites", about their bosses - they sit warm, clean and well-fed, they control the actions of the military from tablets. At the same time, they protect their own.
All other fighters are treated like cannon fodder, considered worthless and losers. Of course, this does not raise morale in any way, but there is no question of military fraternity. There is no open confrontation, but everyone understands that it is precisely the presence of Azov that is the problem, which prevents us from resolving the issue of our stay here without death or captivity.
"SINISTER RUMORS"
May 8, 2022
Nikolai Golubov brought some ominous rumors about Zelensky's agreement on the surrender of the DPR and LPR within the borders of the regions. To my reasonable question - how can the territories controlled by us be given away - he began to convince me that the entire Donbass was already occupied. I do not believe and do not want to swear with these fools.
People say that I lost weight in my face. This is good, maybe it will freshen up my eyes, otherwise when I remember the last passport photo - both laughter and tears.
"EVERYTHING WOULD BE OVER ASAP"
May 9, 2022.
"Palych" with Kodolba came from the positions, but only so that the platoon commander in the workshop would shoot the machine gun with a new mount, a "greenhouse" (night vision sight with a thermal imager. - Ed.). The food is almost unsalted - not enough salt. Portions are also reduced. But I don’t complain - I won’t swell from hunger, and that’s good.
Mid-May is coming soon, but it hasn't gotten any warmer. There is nowhere to hide from dirt from dust, although I constantly wash my hands with an antiseptic. The beard is already thick. It will be interesting to see yourself shaved.
They want to take away the optics of my SVD (Dragunov sniper rifle. - Ed.). Yesterday even received a proposal to change to automatic. I am completely in favor.
The general mood: if only everything would be over, everyone is dreaming of getting out.
"PYLYUKA POST"
05/10/2022
It became more interesting. On the night of May 9-10, airstrikes began, from which even the walls of the bunker tremble. Bombs are now dropped during the day. It is impossible to prepare for the explosion - nothing is heard. This is a little nervous.
Pylyuka pillar. I had to go down, but there was dust there too.
From the news I learned that near Kharkov, ours were conducting a counteroffensive. All is well with the gunners and soon they will master the American 155-mm howitzers, high-precision and long-range. Putin did not introduce mobilization, and he did not hold parades (apparently, the Ukrainian media kept silent about the Parade in Moscow on May 9 - Ed.). Negotiations about our evacuation are ongoing.
"FIGHT OVER PRODUCTS"
05/11/2022.
The commander held a conversation to find out the problems of the servicemen. I raised the question of paying for hostilities. Ideally, it would be nice to get a printout of all payments. We are not able to check the money in the account, as well as send it home.
Nazarliev rushed into a fight against one of the guys. Due to product distribution. It is clear that when someone finds food on the side and feeds in a narrow circle, and someone sits on a scanty ration, there will be problems.
“THIS IS A TERRIBLE IMAGINATION OF ALL THE LOSSES”
05/13/2022
Almost the whole day was on duty near the radio. I heard negotiations with "Lawyer" - a marine of the 36th brigade. They remembered their inglorious breakthrough from Mariupol, two unsuccessful attempts, the escape of the brigade commander, hundreds of losses, prisoners. They said that at the stadium "Metallurg" - a mass grave, 150 fighters. Another truck with their "cargo 200" (the bodies of the dead. - Ed.) was filled up at the "Ilyich Plant".
Losses at Azovstal and in hospitals are also closed in refrigerators that are not working. One of them was destroyed by an explosion. Such terrible things. There were rumors that on one of the bunkers, after airstrikes near the “20 store”, 69 people filled up. It's scary to imagine all the statistics of losses.
After May 9, a new evacuation date is in the air - Monday the 16th. They still dream of a happy ship to a Turkish prison until the end of the war.
"THE RAIN DOESN'T INTERFERE WITH THE RUSSIAN TANK"
05/14/2022
The morning brought tragic news - our sniper from the 3rd platoon , foreman Zinchuk, was killed. This is almost the only professional sniper, he was very careful and responsible. Obviously, there are pros on the other side. This is already the fifth loss in the battalion during the rotation, not counting the missing soldier Ivan Krivonos. Came "Archie", cocked, pounced on Demchenko, who made a remark for the noise at 5 o'clock in the morning. Everybody gets on their nerves.
It started raining heavily. God, we already forgot that it could rain. But for more than an hour, a Russian tank worked closely in our bunker - the rain did not interfere with it.
"HOW DO MY PEOPLE DO IN POLAND?"
05/15/2022
From the news that I heard: negotiations on our issue were to be held in Mariupol today, representatives from the “horde” were waiting.
Disappointing rumors: products are running out and it is not known whether they will be issued at all. The grocery store is full. This is where about 70 "two hundredths."
(200s means killed. 300s means wounded)
And in general - killed twice as many.
Mid-May, spring has passed, and we do not see it at all. We still wear winter clothes.
I wonder: how are my people doing in Poland? Do they bask in the spring sun? I would warm up.
"HOPE FOR SALVATION IS A LIE"
May 16, 2022. Company "Pamir", "Bunker".
And then came the turning point. Today, at the formation, the company commander reported that our evacuation was beginning. Formally so, but in fact we are disarmed and transferred to the Yelenovka pre-trial detention center, which is under the control of the DPR. And although the command convinces that the word "captivity" does not appear, it still does not change the essence - this is captivity. It is clear that the hope of salvation is a lie.
Today, the seriously wounded were evacuated to the Novoazovsk hospital (also DPR). Those who accompanied them were sent to a pre-trial detention center. They promise decent conditions, "protection" of the Russian guard (not separatists), three meals a day, sleeping places. Hope they exchange it soon. We were allowed to take things with us. But all this does not calm, because lack of freedom and defeat.
Get rid of equipment and armor. We destroy what we can. I don't know what to do with diaries. Leave them here in a hiding place, but I don’t believe that it will ever be possible to find them.
I deleted everything from my phone. Hands go down. Although after what we've been through, it doesn't seem to get any worse.
How senseless and wildly perceived is the last loss of foreman Zinchuk, who did not live long before the evacuation. And today, a sniper killed one and wounded another "Azov" who made their way to the river000.
They say that there will be a different attitude towards the Armed Forces of Ukraine than towards Azov. Lord, when will this all be over. Tomorrow everything will be seen what and how. While I made a sortie to the workshop, wandered through the ruins, such melancholy, it was a farewell walk.
"WE HAVE NO CHOICE"
05/17/2022.
Went over things. Got rid of knives, burned chevrons, as well as pages from diaries with some data. In the evening I clung to Palych and, oh, a miracle, I got 10 minutes of communication. Beloved did get through, we talked for three minutes. I think they understood that I was going into captivity. I didn’t see contempt for us on the news, but we have no choice. What will happen? Everything is in the hands of the Lord.
Commentary by Dmitry Steshin:
We know what happened in the bunker under the Reich Chancellery - there are many eyewitness accounts. Books have been written and films made about it. People are always interested in how bastards get what they deserve, and how Good triumphs over Evil. I have no doubt that the last days of the "Azovstal inmates" will also arouse burning interest.
There are too many coincidences in two stories, although there are exactly 77 years between them - the same spring. The ideas are the same, the symbolism is the same - swastikas and runes. At Azovstal, scoundrels got into trouble no worse than those in Berlin, only with a smaller caliber. But even what they managed to do would be enough for the gallows: they dragged thousands of people to the next world, destroyed a beautiful city. At parting, from evil, without apparent military necessity. And no sense of guilt. No attempt to think: “What did we do wrong, since we were driven into these cellars like rats? What are they guilty of?"
No. The "prisoners" think only how to save their skins, they are waiting for NATO intervention, they believe in a Turkish steamship that will take them out to the last, to captivity.
Note that this diary was not written by a rabid Nazi from Azov. No, this is some kind of combatant from the National Guard. An officer seconded to Mariupol. He will serve time, and will leave, apparently, with a "clear conscience", theoretically.
There was a mise-en-scene when we found this diary under a stinky mattress in a bomb shelter. A militia scout with the call sign "Fox" talked about politics, collecting scattered machine gun magazines in a trash bag along the way. I quote Lisa verbatim:
- In vain they separate the "Azovites" and the rest of the Ukrainian military, this is the same bastard. I spoke to people in Mariupol. The same ukromorpehi shot people with whole families. Just if you didn't like it or aroused suspicion.
I was also told the same. They showed the grave of the victim. On the playground, in the sandbox. Some middle-aged man went into hysterics. The psyche broke down after the shelling. And those who allegedly defended this peasant from the “orcs” and “separators”, instead of giving him a sedative, simply shot him. Like. Without thinking. Ordinary Ukrainian warriors.
No wonder - the officers who were ideologically pumped in Azov were placed as commanders in the rest of the troops. And, judging by the abundance of swastikas on ordinary soldiers taken prisoner, the ideas of bunker inmates from two eras found great understanding in the army, which our troops are now grinding. And there is no doubt that the most interesting bunker that we will open will be in Kyiv. The circle will close.