Chief of Staff of the Kraken Special Forces Konstantin Nemichev/Photo by Alina Turishin, channel 24
On February 24, 2022, at about 5:00 am, the Russian invaders began shelling Kharkiv. As a result of the enemy bombardment, such areas of the city as Northern Saltovka, Pyatikhatki and Alekseevka suffered the most.
About the mobilization of people, fierce battles in the Kharkiv region, war crimes and the defense of the first capital of Ukraine – Konstantin Nemichev, head of the headquarters of the Kraken special forces, told the Channel 24 website exclusively.
“More than 800 people were already mobilized at 9:00 am”
Konstantin Nemichev was a participant in the Revolution of Dignity and participated in the defense of Kharkiv from a pro-Russian rebellion in the spring of 2014. In 2014-2016 he served in the battalion and regiment “Azov”, where he received the rank of sergeant. Participated in the battles for Shirokino and the defense of Mariupol. He said that before the start of a full-scale invasion, he understood that the war would begin – at the moment when Russia began to bring troops to the borders of Ukraine.
We started training and training the civilian population, training and lecturing. We made a “skeleton” of people and mobilized them in the first hours of the war. That is, if the war started at 5:00 in the morning, then more than 800 people at 9:00 had already been mobilized. And they began to develop a strategy, put people in position. We did all this with an officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine,” he said.
The basis was made up of veterans of the Azov regiment, as well as civilians. Representatives of different professions who wanted to learn joined. Every Saturday and Sunday they studied and gained experience, which they now use.
The first positions that the Ukrainian military occupied was the Kharkov ring road, where they managed to repel the breakthrough of advanced Russian units and destroy Russian armored vehicles.
One of the first contacts that took place was on Natalia Uzhviy Street in Severnaya Saltovka. There was the main bridgehead, because Russia wanted to get through. And together with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, their first column was burned there, which planned to go to Kharkov, – said Nemichev.
“The basis of these people was the veterans of the Azov regiment/Photo by Alina Turishin, Channel 24
On the third day of the war, the column of invaders nevertheless broke through to Kharkov. The Kraken special unit, along with other units, “caught the invaders around the city and neutralized them.” Two representatives of Russian intelligence were captured.
They had the task of destabilizing Kharkov. That is, they broke through, and they had their own sector of responsibility. These guys, whom we took prisoner, were supposed to blow up the TV towers and communication towers. They didn't succeed. We burned their equipment and rendered harmless. After that, there were no more breakthroughs into the city of Kharkiv,” Nemichev added.
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Nemichev spoke about the capture of Russians in captivity/Photo by Alina Turishin, Channel 24
Everything that the occupiers had flew to Northern Saltovka. According to Nemichev, now there is actually no whole building left in this area of Kharkov.
If we take some cities of the Kyiv region and Mariupol, then we see how infidels level villages with the ground when they lose them. And when they realized that they would not break through to Northern Saltovka, they began to bomb this area with everything they had. Tanks, 120-mm mortars, self-propelled artillery mounts (ACS), artillery, Grads were working, the defender said.
Northern Saltovka after Russian shelling/Photo by Alina Turishin, Channel 24:
There were positions on Severnaya Saltovka that were supposed to meet the enemy.
“They also flew into the windows where there were positions. People died, there are wounded, but we survived. Unfortunately, the guys die, but they die like heroes. They defend their state, their city and do what everyone should do man,” Nemichev emphasized.
Ukrainian defenders also helped with the evacuation of people to places allocated by the city for their temporary residence. However, there were also people who remained during the hostilities and flatly did not want to leave. They moved into basements and shelters. Therefore, the fighters helped them as much as possible with food and water.
“We do everything possible and impossible”
According to Nemichev, In the north of Kharkov, a counteroffensive is now underway. The territories are cleared, but it is very difficult, because the Russian soldiers are digging in, fortifying and concreted.
It's very hard to attack now. Their task is to stretch our troops. They understand that if we clean up our territory here, we will go to help in the Donbass and the Izyum direction. Their task is to hold on with all their might. We do everything possible and impossible. Our unit has liberated two settlements – Russkaya Lozovaya and Pitomnik, and we plan to move on to drive the enemy out of our territories, – the warrior noted.
The Izyum direction is the enemy's priority. After all, on the road Kupyansk – Izyum, they made their way to the Donbass. That is, they plan to go through this path to the territory of Donbass and encircle.
But our Armed Forces hold on. Sometimes we give a lot of surprises for the Russian Federation. That is, their columns are on fire. We understand their logistics. We understand how they send ammunition and food, where their warehouses are. We have it all, and we are working on it. We try to make sure that their equipment is neutralized as much as possible, because they have a human resource. It is necessary to neutralize the equipment – this is one of the ways to win, – said Nemichev. 05/nad-ljudmi-izdevalis-mnogih-grazhdanskih-prosto-rasstreljali-zashhitnik-ob-oborone-harkova-cacb09c.jpg” alt=”People were mocked, many civilians were simply shot, – defender about the defense of Kharkov” />< /p>
“We give a lot of surprises for the Russian Federation”/Photo by Alina Turishin, Channel 24
“There are a lot of cases of violence, interrogations”
Now, according to statistics, 20% of Kharkiv region is occupied. However, most of the territory remains mined. In particular, civilians are not yet allowed into Severnaya Saltovka. There are still a lot of unexploded shells and trip wires there.
It is better for civilians not to go there and wait until everything is cleared to pick up their things,” he added.
The situation is the same in those territories that have just been liberated. Konstantin Nemichev said that people found Russian troops in Russkaya Lozovaya and Pitomnik at 5:00 in the morning. They didn't even have a chance to leave. And the way to Kharkov was immediately cut off by the Russian army. People had to be in occupation for two months without food, water, electricity.
Their phones were taken away, all people were driven into basements. Residents were forbidden to travel by car in the village. They were beaten out to Belgorod in Russia. They offered to go there almost every day. People were bullied. There are a lot of cases of violence, interrogations. Many civilians were simply shot in the streets. These are the same Russians who were in Bucha and other regions. They have one mentality, and they work according to their own notes, Nemichev noted.
“Many civilians were simply shot on the streets”/Photo by Alina Turishin, Channel 24
Now many Kharkiv residents are already returning to the city, but the shelling has not ended yet. If we take the outskirts of Kharkiv, then it “arrives” there anyway.
The war is not over yet. Therefore, if people return, they must understand that they need to be in shelters, understand that there is a curfew, you need to think about your safety. Therefore, if possible, it is better not to return yet. It’s safer and easier for the military as well,” Nemichev summed up.
Also on the topic – Creepy footage from the Kharkov market after a powerful shelling: watch the video
