Veterans of the battalion “Kryvbas” have joined the initiative of the volunteers of “Donbass” battalion on submitting the case of Ilovaisk to the court. Curator of Kryvbas battalion and the chairman of Kryvyi Rih city organization of “Ukrainian Patriots Association – UKROP” Mykola Kolesnyk has stated it on the air of 112 Ukraine TV channel. According to him, among the members of Kryvbas battalion 120 families are victims in this case. In order to bring forward the investigation Mykola Kolesnyk has brought a third part of the original orders for transferring to the central office of the Military Prosecutor’s Office. “These are the orders given by the ATO centre and the General Staff. They prove that the battalions of territorial defence that had not to leave the borders of the region, were ordered to storm Ilovaisk (by the military command),” said Mykola Kolesnik.
He has also noted that now Ukrainian prisons are overcrowded with ATO participants who have returned to their homes and tried to restore justice – by punishing villains, dishonest and corrupt officials, and other criminals.
“Most of those who are currently detained are not criminals. Some of them could just have an extremely strong sense of justice after the war,” said Mykola Kolesnyk. He considers that the Ukrainian society that has high hopes for demobilized soldiers – as they are believed to come back and to bring order – after all just forgets about the fighters. The politician said that now during the trials of ATO participants only activists, some of their fellows and MPs are present in the courtroom.
He is convinced that the state must stop demonstration trials of patriots, and instead of this the authorities should pay more attention to the soldiers’ rehabilitation.
“It is painful to hear the information about the amnesty for militants in Donbas, because at first it should be started on our side. Even if someone has taken the wrong tack, we should take the first step to make up with them. The number of people who are motivated only by patriotism is decreasing. So let’s save at least those who have remained,” considers the curator of Kryvbas volunteer battalion.
