“At the interrogation I told about the women in labor crippled by the Russian attack in Mariupol, the Russians did not want to hear the truth” - Alexander Koretsky (VIDEO)
In Mariupol, Alexander Koretsky rescued women in a maternity hospital on which Russia dropped a bomb, brought food to hungry children. Then - detention, almost 8 months of captivity. Despite physical and psychological torture, the police lieutenant colonel maintained the dignity and loyalty of his people. Next is the frank story of the defender, who seeks that the world does not forget about Mariupol, Russian crimes and defenders who remain in captivity.
“The experience gained in Mariupol is the most difficult and the most valuable. Since February 24, 2022, we have established additional response groups. They fought with looters, took the wounded out of the shelling, delivered food, water to people...
About children and hunger
Somehow a little boy came to me, maybe 6-7 years old. Eyes like an old man's. And a girl, even smaller, five years old, his sister. They were evacuated from the Left Bank. I had a vitamin lozenge in my jacket and I gave it away. Well, there was nothing to give them, only that. And their relatives cooked soup. There were about 10 people, and the saucepan was somewhere around 3 liters. And they say, “Guys, we're going to feed you now”... I say, “What are you doing? We bring food for you, not to eat it ourselves.”
And when I left, the boy catches up, takes by the sleeve and says, “Uncle, will you come again?” I always thought of myself as a strong person, but when I got in the car, the guys say, “What about you? You have tears in your eyes.”
It is wrong when children see it, when children die from it. War is wrong.
About the Russian airstrike on the hospital
I arrived at the third hospital about 3 minutes after the air strike. And when I was questioned by representatives of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation: “Do you know anything about war crimes?”, I say: “Yes, I know.” They say, “Is that what your plane was like?” I say, “No, yours.”
When I was already sitting (in the cell), I was allowed to read a special issue of Komsomolskaya Pravda, where it was written that the Russians carried out a rocket and bomb attack on the third hospital in the city of Mariupol, because there was a headquarters of the “Ukronacists”, as they call us. “Look,” I say, “have you ever seen a woman in the cold, dressed only in a summer robe, walk barefoot on broken glass, she has a huge belly, blood flows down her legs. She gives birth to a child by walking through this glass. Have you ever seen that?” He said, “Don't tell me that, I'm a big believer.” I say, “And I dream about it from time to time. I went around this hospital from the 1st to the 3rd floor, looking there for the dead, the wounded. There were children, little ones who had just been born - and he had already been taken out into the street, in the cold. The women were pregnant, wounded. Everyone was very scared. But as you say, “Ukronacists” were not there.
The boy brought his wife to give birth to the hospital and left - 40 minutes before the attack. He was crying, he was screaming, he didn't know what was wrong with his wife. I took him like that, shook him, I said, “Your wife and your child are alive, we will find them.” They were evacuated, all is well.
About Double Strikes
Every half hour or so the plane came in. We hear the sound of the engine and understand that there will be two strokes. Their tactics were the same as they did in Pokrovsk, when the first missile arrives - representatives of the rescue services, law enforcement agencies gathered - and the second missile arrives. It was the same in Mariupol. They loved doing it at night when people were sleeping. We arrive, we see how the nine-story building is leaving. We start, who we can, rescue, remove, and somewhere 20 -30 minutes after the first strike, a second strike in the same place. There were no air alarms. As you can see, almost the entire city was in ruins. They systematically smashed quarter by quarter.
About trying to get out of the environment
On March 16, there was an attempt to leave the city. We left, passed several checkpoints, and at the entrance to Berdyansk there were no longer Russians, but so-called DPR servicemen, who began to check all the men very carefully. They were glad to have caught the lieutenant colonel.
About captivity
Every day, morning and evening, we were taken out of the cameras. Everyone has probably heard how they treat life prisoners. The ribs that I broke grew badly, incorrectly and were pressed against my heart. This is for the rest of your life.
The hardest thing was thinking about family, not knowing what to do with relatives. The Russians asked: “Well, old man, how do you think you live?” I say I have that hope. And in response: “Hehe, well, hope so.” Well, you understand what a person feels after such words... They wanted us not to understand where we are, what time, what is the number today.
Personally, I was taken for an exchange 8 times. “Everything, you're going home.” But the door to the car lock opens - and a new stage, a new reception, and at the reception they always crack. So that we understand our place, that we are somewhere on the level of animals.
On returning to Ukraine
I told God that when I came out and stepped on Ukrainian-controlled land, I would kneel and kiss her. Well, and that's it - stood, kissed.
About your goal
We all have to do what the state demands of us. When everyone does their job, we can do everything.
Ukraine managed to return Alexander Koretsky during the exchange in November 2022 along with the military. For a year now he has been serving again at home, in the Donetsk region. Here, in Donetsk, he began his journey as a young lieutenant. Here, as deputy head of the department of preventive activities of the GUNP in Donetsk region, he now takes care of the security of police officers at checkpoints.
National Police of Ukraine
