Details of the high-profile case about the refusal of the military to build defenses at the airport in Gostomel, about how they defended an important object in the suburbs of the capital on February 24 last year, and how the "second army of the world" was disgraced near Kyiv - all this on the eve of the anniversary of the liberation of Kyiv region from the occupiers in

the press officer of the rapid response brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Rubizh" Andrii Kulish told 

an

interview

for

TSN.ua.

At the beginning of March, the SBU reported suspicions to three, now former representatives of Antonov State Enterprise.

According to the investigation, officials did not allow representatives of the National Guard to enter the territory of the Gostomel airport to prepare for its protection and defense.

This led to the temporary capture of the strategically important airfield, the surrounding settlements and the destruction of the "Mriya" plane.

What exactly did the officials forbid building for defense?

I agree with the SBU version.

All that was related to our efforts to organize the defense - the former leader did not contact us about this.

Is it about Serhii Bychkov?

Yes, about him.

There was no assistance from him.

He did not give permission to build, for example, trenches on the territory of the airport.

He protested against it in every possible way.

It was said something like that this is an airport and you can't dig trenches here.

Therefore, when the Russian air raid took place on our airport, we used natural shelters, the so-called "greenery", existing buildings.

But we were not dug in, because before that he forbade us to create trenches for the location of equipment and personnel.

The investigation will establish the details of why he had such a position.

What was February 24, 2022 like for the military who protected Gostomel airport?

I think that on February 23, many people realized that something had to happen.

Personally, I gathered things, got ready.

On duty, everyone was on high alert - every day we had educational alarms.

And on February 22, and on the 23rd.

It was clear to everyone that the Russians could try to seize Gostomel, because it is located near Kyiv, this airstrip is capable of receiving large cargo planes.

Between 5 and 7 in the morning on February 24, a cruise missile arrived and exploded 200 meters from the place where we are now talking.

A large crater was formed.

Fortunately, no one was injured then.

Between 10 and 11 o'clock enemy rotorcraft began to fly, the battle began.

Attack helicopters began to pour missiles on the airport buildings, on our positions.

According to our information, about a hundred enemy rotorcraft were operating at that time.

A total of 140 helicopters crossed the border then,

up to a hundred worked here.

This is in addition to a pair of Su-25 aircraft.

A unit of helicopters came in, worked out, and others came in their place.

My position was near the location of our military firefighters, they also fired concentrated fire from small arms, one of the "turntables" caught fire.

Then it became clear that Russian helicopters are not "flying tanks" and those who thought so simply became victims of enemy propaganda.

How many manpower did the Russians plan to land here, in Gostomel, a few kilometers from Kyiv?

Approximately - 4 thousand personnel.

If we are talking about a mechanized brigade with artillery, it could be up to 4 thousand here on the very first morning of a full-scale invasion.

This would have happened if the battle I told about had not happened.

If there was no battle, the planes would have landed.

On the same day, the Russians could break into Kyiv.

Therefore, as the battle was fought, their planes could not land.

There was information that a certain number of Russians landed outside the airport.

What is known about it now?

Three groups of Russians, paratroopers, 250-300 people landed in the area of ​​the runway and further north.

There was a shootout with them.

How many of our troops faced the enemy right here that day?

Up to 200 military personnel.

They were mostly conscripts, a company of a support battalion.

These are guys aged 18-20, management officers.

That is, military accountants, military psychologists, the press service, military firefighters.

The main part of our brigade then left for the east on a planned rotation. 

How did the events develop after noon?

Somewhere between 12.00 and 13.00, when we ran out of ammunition, the commander decided to withdraw the personnel outside the territory of the unit for regrouping.

We left.

Our artillery struck the airstrip and the concentration of enemy landing forces near the airport.

Around 4:00 p.m., we were in the Gorenka area, leaving on foot.

All this time, the enemy's "pinwheel" was spinning - the Russians were trying to determine our location.

Later, we saw our aircraft coming in to attack the runway.

Later, we joined forces with another part of the National Guard to carry out tasks.

What happened next in Gostomel?

In the evening, several groups of our paratroopers landed.

Partial control over the airport buildings was taken.

Fighting was going on all night.

In the morning of the next day, the Ukrainian military carried out an ambush, destroyed part of the enemy's equipment, which was moving from the direction of Dymer.

The troops, who planned to reach Gostomel by air, could not do so because of the destroyed airstrip.

They entered Ukraine by land from Belarus.

Kadyriv people here at the checkpoint recorded a video for Tik-Tok, talking about the fact that they killed something like 2,500 people here.

The next day, locals saw Il above Gostomel, circling here, but could not land due to the destroyed runway.

It was known from reports that there was an attempt to land an enemy landing force in Vasylkiv, but Il, as far as is known, was shot down by our military.

At least 200 people could be on board.

The military from time to time comment on the probability of a second Russian attack on Kyiv.

Now they can consider the way to the capital through Gostomel?

The runway of the airfield is destroyed and unsuitable for aircraft landing.

If such an attempt is made, then the Russians who will fly here will simply be destroyed by the means that the Navy already has.

They have no sense in storming this airport, but we are ready because it is a strategic object.

The defense is arranged both around Gostomel and around the Kyiv region.

What is currently known about the destruction of the "Dream" plane by the Russians?

A few days before the invasion, our boys, who patrol the airport territory, saw how the "Mriya" was being serviced.

"Antonivtsi" said that on February 24 they were waiting for a signal to take off, but I can neither confirm nor deny this.

Regarding the destruction of this plane by the Russians, I can say the following: the Russians opened fire on it.

They fired at the hangars.

Moreover, there is a video showing an unexploded missile in "Mria".

She did not detonate.

The destruction of "Mriya" occurred as a result of a fire that started in the area of ​​the roof of the plane, where the oxygen cylinders are located.

Details will be reported by the investigation.

 When you came here after de-occupation, what picture did you see with your own eyes?

There was a lot of trash and destruction here.

The Russians dug in here very actively, but hundreds died here every day as a result of our strikes.

Behind the children's playground, a caponier (firing position - Ed.) for a tank was set up.

We found video cards from computers in the destroyed trucks of Kadyriv workers, they stole an electric kettle from my office and set it on fire.

Their shoes were everywhere.

It turned out that they changed into Ukrainian berets, which were stored in our warehouse.

They equipped one of their positions with a children's swing.

They took the washing machines out of the school building and the premises of the younger classes, and put them on display to be taken away if there was an opportunity.

They didn't have time because they were running away.

They also found a Ukrainian flag, to which some orc sewed our badges.

That is, he sat embroidering to take away.

The occupiers in Gostomel left us 100 chests with shells for tanks.   

It will be recalled that earlier the head of the police of the Kyiv region, Andriy Nebytov, spoke about

the Russians' maps found and plans for an enemy landing during the first three days of the full-scale invasion to capture the government quarter of the capital

Read also:

Why they didn't save the "Mriya": the investigation into the destruction of the An-225 plane in Gostomel - new details

The occupiers destroyed their own helicopter: last year's video from Gostomel was published

"Eyes of Gostomel" or "corrector from the people": TSN found a mysterious gunner who helped recapture the resort