Amid the abrupt and sometimes chaotic withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the town of Avdiivka, a horrific story has emerged of several wounded soldiers who did not escape and then died when Russian troops reached their position.
Ivan Zhytnyk, 30, whose call sign is “Django,” had been fighting in Avdiivka for almost two years, as had the 110th Brigade.
The junior sergeant and combat medic were seriously injured and could not move. But on Thursday he communicated with her sister Kateryna and other family members in an emotional video call, which has since received wide coverage in Ukraine and on social media.
Kateryna asks her brother: “So, what, they… no one is coming?” Your boys are there too. [with you]Or are you alone?
Django replied: “Everyone left, everyone retired. They told us that a car would pick us up. I have two broken legs and shrapnel in my back. I can not do anything…
He said there were six soldiers at the post, called Zenit. “Four people like me can't walk either,” he told his sister.
Kateryna replies: “I don't know how to…who to call (crying)…I can't understand it. Who will pick you up?
Nobody did it.
On Friday, a Russian military blogger posted a video showing the bodies of several of the soldiers. The video bore the emblem of the Russian army's 1st Slavic Brigade, which had entered the area south of Avdiivka two days earlier, according to multiple accounts.
The text of the video reads: “February 16, 2024. Military unit installation, Avdeevka. Ukrnazi, in our land only death awaits you.”
Kateryna said she recognized Ivan's body from his clothes and the water bottle he was holding.
