The wives of Ukrainian servicemen who are at the blocked Azovstal plant held a press conference.

What is the situation at Azovstal?

The wives of Ukrainian servicemen at Azovstal keep in touch with them by texting in instant messengers once a day - every few days. Sometimes, like Olga, the wife of a wounded soldier, once every two weeks.

The soldiers say that the Russian occupiers continue to bombard, so they hardly come out. When they succeed, the military tries to find water and food.. Ekaterina, the wife of one of the fighters, said that they are forced to drink one glass of technical water a day. In addition, there is a critical situation with medicines at Azovstal.

The mood among the military is pessimistic, the fighters are preparing for the “last battle”, because they do not really believe in a diplomatic solution to this issue. “Despite the negotiations, a lot of people die every day, the wounded suffer,” the women noted..

On de-blockade of Mariupol and evacuation A military blockade is possible, but we do not have time for this. Every day people die.

*** We understand that the main role of Mariupol in this war is to draw on a lot of forces so that our troops can liberate Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkov. We do not know if the Russians would have taken Kyiv if not for Mariupol, if not for Azov. We believe in our power and trust it. We simply ask you to continue to concentrate all your attention, all efforts, political and diplomatic pressure precisely there.. That's all we ask.

*** All the defenders of Mariupol have done enough to be evacuated, they deserve to live. Therefore, we hope for an early decision, a coalition of countries that can help our government.

*** A variant was worked out when the Azov people would lay down their arms in a third country and leave through it. We ask countries to join it, form a coalition that insists on it, and we ask all who can offer themselves as a third country to do so..

About the wounded The number of wounded is constantly changing, because some of the wounded die, others are added due to shelling and bombing. We know there were about 700 of them.. Now how many - we do not know. The hospital is very hot and stuffy. There is very little opportunity to send food there..

*** First of all, the wounded should be taken out, who may die the next day. But we insist on the evacuation of absolutely everyone. Today we will take away all the wounded, and tomorrow there will be another 200.

*** An injury is when you have no arms or legs, internal organs are broken, huge injuries. For Azov, a fragment in the leg or superficial damage is not even a wound..

*** Antibiotics in very limited quantities for especially difficult operations. People with amputations lie without them, without painkillers. People with severe injuries just endure the pain. Limbs are amputated even with small injuries, without painkillers - they just cut them live. Brothers see it all.

Meeting with the Pope It was unexpected for us that he stood up when he saw us. From the look, gestures, it was clear that he was very empathetic to our problem, deepened into it.

We asked if he considered coming to Mariupol to evacuate our military. He replied that in general he spoke with the cardinal, and he replied that this was not a problem. For us, this is a new breath, a new hope..

On the surrender of fighters to the Russian Federation How many times they were offered, no information. But it happens all the time. We know they don't deserve to die in torture.. They will be there to the last, because they followed the call of the heart, knowing that this could be a one-way ticket.. They are for Ukraine to the end.

*** In addition, since 2014, only one Azov citizen has returned from Russian captivity: with broken teeth, damaged internal organs, and in a terrible state. Everyone else was tortured and killed. That is, captivity is not an option at all..

On the fight against propaganda Every day we are engaged in an information war, we fight fakes, Russian propaganda, we shout about Azovstal, and this, in principle, gives a result.. The first week when we were in Europe, there were always the same questions: “You are all Nazis? » We have strong arguments and these myths are very easy to dispel. Now few people ask these questions, because it is cynical, funny. Everyone understands who is the real fascist, terrorist and real enemy for the world.