Azov commander is deported to Russia - says wife, media

Russian mainstream media report that Azov regiment Commander Denys Prokopenko has been deported to the Russia. Ukraine's state structures and the Red Cross have yet to confirm these reports

Kateryna, the wife of the commander of the Azov regiment, Denys Prokopenko, told about this in an interview with Suspilne. 

"I only know that he was taken to Russia and it has not been confirmed yet. I found out about Denys's whereabouts through the Russian media. State structures have not confirmed it for me because it is difficult to confirm anything here. I understand that Russia hides the command staff, other soldiers, as well as officers and doesn't disclose where they are", Prokopenko said. 

She also noted that there is no information from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the commander of the Azov regiment.

"This is essentially the work of the Red Cross - to answer me, but I still do not know where my husband is. Even if he is in Russia, there should be, in principle, communication with the Moscow branch of the Red Cross. But it is not there. This means that there is, perhaps, a certain agreement with the same authorities in Russia not to release information about the location, etc…" the commander's wife said. 

Kateryna Prokopenko also recalled that there were cases when the Red Cross called relatives and informed them of their whereabouts.

"There were cases when the Red Cross called relatives and reported that your son is in Olenivka or Novoazovsk, but these cases are very small. Most of the cases are reports of the location. But the issues of health, nutrition, food, conditions, torture, medical care -  they don't have the answers, even though they should provide them. As we have already seen from the case of the tragedy in Olenivka, the Red Cross is not involved at all. I don't understand what it does or why it exists. I would be glad if there was a reformation of the system of international organizations, which are supposed to be for security, for people's rights, for people's lives, but in general, in the war in Ukraine, these international organizations are worthless", the wife of the commander of the Azov regiment emphasized.