- Title: Russian-installed leader of Zaporizhzhia region says hundreds volunteer to fight
- Date: 14th October 2022
- Summary: UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE (OCTOBER 13, 2022) (REUTERS) VOLUNTEER FIGHTERS WITH RUSSIAN FLAG PATCHES ON HEADS LOADING GUN MAGAZINES VOLUNTEER WITH PATCH ON HEAD SAYING (Russian) "ANGEL" LOADING GUN MAGAZINE VOLUNTEER WITH "Z" PATCH ON SHOULDER LOADING GUN MAGAZINE VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER FIGHTERS WITH GUNS LISTENING TO INSTRUCTOR VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEER FIGHTERS SHOOTING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VOLUNTEER FIGHTER, ILYA, 23: "It is necessary to protect your homeland. If not us, then who? (Protect) children, families, wives, parents." PATCH ON SHOULDER SAYING IN RUSSIAN "SUDOPLATOV (BATTALION)" (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) VOLUNTEER FIGHTER, ILYA, 23: "No, I don't have experience. This is my first time." RUSSIAN-INSTALLED LEADER OF ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, YEVGENY BALITSKY, TALKING TO VOLUNTEERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN-INSTALLED LEADER OF ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, YEVGENY BALITSKY, SAYING: "Sudoplatov battalion is being organized in Zaporizhzhia region. Now the training is in process. We have more than 200 people in the battalion. They are not only residents of Zaporizhzhia region, but those who served here in the army in the past, have relatives in Zaporizhzhia region, those who studied in Zaporizhzhia region." BALITSKY (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN-INSTALLED LEADER OF ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, YEVGENY BALITSKY, SAYING: "We invite to join us only voluntarily of course. More than 600 people applied. 200 have been selected so far. There are different reasons why people have not been selected to be a part of battalion yet. But there are more applicants than those who have been selected already.'' VARIOUS OF BALITSKY SHOOTING MELITOPOL, ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE (OCTOBER 13, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SQUARE WITH RUSSIAN FLAG AND SIGN SAYING (Russian): "MELITOPOL. GLORY TO WINNERS." RUSSIAN FLAG WAVING FOUNTAIN WITH RUSSIAN FLAG IN BACKGROUND UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE (OCTOBER 13, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS WITH GUNS STANDING VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS GIVING OATH MELITOPOL, ZAPORIZHZHIA REGION, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE (OCTOBER 13, 2022) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING RUSSIAN FLAG WAVING
- Embargoed: 28th October 2022 03:08
- Keywords: Melitopol Russia Ukraine
- Location: MELITOPOL, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE / UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE
- City: MELITOPOL, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE / UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, RUSSIAN-CONTROLLED UKRAINE
- Country: Ukraine
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA001213813102022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Over 200 volunteer fighters have been recruited to the Sudoplatov battalion in Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia region, the Russian-installed leader of the region, Yevgeny Balitsky said on Thursday (October 13).
The recruits to the Russian-backed forces are undergoing training on a military base not far from Melitopol, a city in the south of the Zaporizhzhia region. Balitsky said more than 600 people applied.
‘’There are different reasons why people have not been selected to be a part of battalion yet,'' he said.
''But there are more applicants than those who have been selected already.''
One of the volunteers, Ilya, 23, told Reuters that he joined the battalion because he wanted "to protect (his) homeland," adding that he did not have any military experience.
Moscow in September proclaimed its annexation of four partially occupied regions in Ukraine - Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia - after staging what it called referendums. Ukraine and allies have denounced the votes as illegal and coercive. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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