The media article analyzed dozens of hours of radio interception of Russian units on the approaches to the capital. The recordings show the disorganization of Russian troops: communication problems, equipment malfunctions, food shortages, casualties and low morale. All this happened under the pressure of resistance from the Ukrainian defense forces.
As follows from the records, in the second half of March, the Russian formation tried to break through to Kyiv, but got stuck on the outskirts of the city and suffered losses.
In one of the interceptions, one of the Russians states: “Mongoose, mongoose, I’m a badger, load the dead, the dead. Let’s go a little faster than three hundred and two hundred, load them back – we’re flying.”.
In another interception, panic is noticeable: “There’s shelling here and other s… nya, s…, should we fucking die right on the spot?”
The Russian military often could not understand where the fire was coming from: “I can’t understand where it’s coming from… Are you standing still? Turn around.
Radio Liberty noted that Russian commanders hid the real names of settlements. Makarov received the code name “Khasavyurt”, and Ozershchina – “Khabarovsk”. These codes were used to coordinate shelling and unit movements.
During interceptions, the military also complained about their own artillery, which often missed the target or even hit their own positions.
“Gunner, they’ll put a shell in your point…”, “If you send me like that again, I’ll bury you in the fields…”, “That’s it, we didn’t hit… It’s bad, it’s bad what you did…” – threats from many Russian commanders are heard on the recordings.
According to the investigation, the shelling was carried out by the 64th separate motorized rifle brigade from the Khabarovsk Territory under the command of Azatbek Omurbekov, who later received the title of Hero of Russia.
Interceptions also record the actions of the Russian Guard special forces during sweeps in Bucha and Irpen, and also indicate the killings of civilians in Lipovka, Andreevka, Makarov and other settlements in the Kyiv region.
“Torturing the civilians… Take everything here. Get them the fuck out.”says the occupier.
The interceptions confirm that the Russian army began to retreat from the Kyiv region long before the Kremlin’s statements about the “gesture of goodwill”, leaving the territory after defeat on the battlefield, Radio Liberty notes.
The retreat was accompanied by intense shelling, and after the liberation of cities and villages, numerous atrocities by Russian troops were recorded.
Video: Radio Liberty Ukraine / Youtube
Context
After the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, Irpen, Gostomel, Bucha and other settlements in the suburbs of Kyiv became an area of intense fighting.
The Kiev region, partially occupied from February 24 to March 31, 2022, was completely liberated by April 2. After the liberation, it became known about the massacres of civilians and the atrocities of the occupiers, which shocked the world.
In populated areas of the region, in particular in Bucha, the bodies of hundreds of killed civilians were discovered. During the 33 days of occupation, the Russian military committed more than 9 thousand war crimes in the Buchansky district alone and killed over 1.4 thousand civilians, including 37 children, noted the Office of the President of Ukraine.
