Petr Olegovich Polinkevich, Petro Olehovych Polinkevich, Полинкевич Пётр Олегович, Полінкевич Петро Олегович
Petr Olegovich Polinkevich
- July 12, 1997;
- 25th Separate Assault Brigade (military unit A1126);
- Soldier, rifleman;
He was captured in the Kursk region.
Polinkevich Petro Olegovich. July 12, 1997. Kyiv region, Brovary district, Baryshevka. 225th battalion. 25th separate assault brigade. Private rifleman. I was caught by TCK, was undergoing a medical examination in the hospital in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region. We were there for about a month. Then there were exercises. From Chuhuiv, we were taken to the village Kapitanivka, Sumy region.
On the 25th, we were taken to a position at some farm on Kazaky. At the farm, we switched to a jeep. To the afforestation area, we were driven and there we were met by a guide. From there, he led us to the middle of the forest and we arrived at our position. Two of us went off to look for the position we needed. Three remained. Those two who left, they didn’t come back and we three remained at that position, sitting and listening to the cars, where they drive and who walks… And all this we had to relay via radio. Call sign “Caffeine”, senior lieutenant. He was found with drugs and there was a smell of alcohol on him. They sent him with us to the position.
What does your unit consist of?
Ages from 16-18 years to 65 years. Mainly, those aged 18. Are you claiming that there are 16-year-olds serving in the 25th brigade? They behaved like they were from orphanages. Naturally, they were scared. Intimidated…
How did you get captured?
We were at the position. The shelling started. We were sitting in the dugout, one of them climbed out and started shooting. We got scared. One took his weapon, it jammed. The second weapon I took, it jammed… and my weapon he took, it also jammed. He threw it away. I say: guys, you do what you want, but I will surrender. I don’t want to see and feel this. And they yelled at us: surrender, surrender, surrender. I heard. I was the first to come out, hands raised up and surrender. They tell me: take off and throw everything off completely. I completely undressed, took it off, approached. He showed that hands should be turned back and wrapped them with rope. Then the others came out behind me and surrendered. The fighter who was shooting back was left there. They pelted him with grenades and he died.
How did you get captured? Wonderful, everything is fine. We bathe, they feed us, I like the way they treat us.
Message to relatives: Hello, mom, I am doing well. Don’t worry, they treat us normally. Don’t be anxious. I am doing well.
Appeal to fellow brothers: Do not go to war. We don’t need it. It just destroys us. Surrender and everything will be fine. Do not come here. Surrender and you will live normally. Return to your families and you will live as you lived before.
