In Poltava region, community officers together with local residents stopped columns of enemy vehicles
At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, officers of the Velykobyshcha community in Poltava region, Stanislav Shestopalov and Sergey Kayola, together with local residents, prevented the enemy from marching in the direction of the capital.
Velikobudishchanska AHG of Mirgorod district borders with Lebedinsky and Akhtyrsky districts of Sumy region. And when local residents and community officers received information that enemy vehicles were flying in their direction from Okhtyrka, Lebedin and Kamensky, the direction of further movement was not in doubt.
“Everyone understood the direction of movement of enemy vehicles. They were looking for a way in the direction of Kiev, Lokhvytsia, Pyriatyn. With local activists from the town of Gadyacha, the village of Veprika, we chose places where to do certain engineering structures to hinder the movement of equipment. We knew that if we missed it, Kiev would not be sweet. Therefore, no one was going to give up, everyone was trying to do something,” - Stanislav Shestopalov.
“We have three crew here. My partner and I were in the village of Veprik: we were constantly patrolling the territory to see us and count on us. We supported the people and saw the readiness to defend themselves. If possible, we asked to send video evidence to our telegram group, or to personal numbers, so that we can pass this information on,” says Serhiy Kayola.
The policemen helped to defend themselves: they chose locations for fortifications and set up a constant exchange of information with local residents who waged their own struggle with the enemy. Messages from residents, video evidence and air intelligence data were transmitted by law enforcement officers to special police and military units.
The active position of citizens and law enforcement prevented the occupation troops from marching through the territory of the community towards the capital.
