Denys Prokopenko posted the photo of negotiations in besieged Mariupol
Source: Denys Prokopenko
On May 20, the lieutenant colonel of the National Guard of Ukraine, the commander of the 12th special brigade “Azov” Denys Prokopenko, for the first time published a photo from the negotiations during the battles for Mariupol.
The photo was taken in May, 2022, even before the defenders were ordered to leave the territory of the “Azovstal” plant.
On May 20, 2022, to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, president Zelensky ordered to stop the defense of Mariupol and to withdraw from the territory of “Azovstal”.
As a result of difficult negotiations with the Russian side, agreements were reached regarding the evacuation of civilians from the Azovstal plant. Thus, hundreds of people, residents of Mariupol, who found shelter in the territory of the plant, were saved.
All the civilians who were hiding from the enemy bombardment in Azovstal remained alive.The last civilian left the territory of the plant on May 7, 2022.
Even after that, the Mariupol garrison continued to defend the plant until the corresponding order of the higher command.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.