Mariupol Defenders' Day: a petition to Volodymyr Zelensky collected 25,000 votes

A petition to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to establish a memorial day for Mariupol's defenders has gained the 25,000 votes needed for its consideration in two days. The document is authored by Kateryna Prokopenko, wife of the commander of the Azov Regiment, Hero of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko.

The petition was published on the website of the Office of the President on March 23. It notes that the defense of Mariupol was a unique operation that has no analogs in modern Ukrainian history.

"The battle for Mariupol has become a symbol of invincibility for Ukrainians. Thanks to the loyalty and bravery of the soldiers of the Mariupol garrison, we managed to pull back a large group of enemy forces in the south of the country, thereby slowing down the pressure in other areas and preventing the enemy from fully developing success in other parts of the front," the statement reads.

On a national scale, the defense of Mariupol allowed to regroup troops, receive modern weapons from the West, mobilize new reserves, take over the strategic initiative along the entire contact line and conduct a number of successful counter-offensive operations, added Kateryna Prokopenko.

According to her, hundreds of killed, wounded and captured Mariupol defenders deserve a memorial day in their honor.

As OBOZREVATEL reported:

- On September 21, 215 defenders, including 108 Azov fighters, were returned to Ukraine as part of a large-scale prisoner exchange with Russia. Among them is the commander of the Azov regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Denys Prokopenko ("Redis").

- Five commanders of the Mariupol garrison are in Türkiye through the mediation of the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

- In October, the released commanders of the Azovstal defenders met with their families for the first time since their captivity.

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