Russian forces targeted the Ukrainian armed forces near Gostomel due to data from spies – Monastyrskyi

DENYS KARLOVSKYI — THURSDAY, 2 JUNE 2022, 22: 03

DESTROYED "MRIYA" IN THE HANGAR IN GOSTOMEL. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi claims that the Russian occupiers had secret information about the deployment of defensive fortifications and units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine under the Antonov State Enterprise airport in Gostomel.

Source: Monastyrskyi on the air of the All-Ukrainian 24-hour live national television channel

Monastyrskyi's Quote: "I think that in general, we will need to reconsider the attitude to such important, responsible positions in our state. Because, for example, during the battle in Gostomel, on the first day of large-scale aggression (Russia against Ukraine-Ukrainska Pravda) on 24 February, we talked with the soldiers who were standing in these positions and who met the enemy on the first day, when there were 40 (enemy – Ukrainska Pravda) helicopters at the same time, flew and fired missiles, fired thousands of shots at our fighters, they said that most likely the enemy knew where our positions were located.

Therefore, several firing points were hit by the first missiles. And we understand that this is also a problem of spies, saboteurs who worked at that time, and who contributed to the fact that in the first minutes the enemy had such definite successes."

Details: Monastyrskyi added that hundreds of collaborators operate in the occupied territories of Ukraine. He was personally struck by the number of Representatives from the political parties "Opozytsiyna platforma – Za Zhyttia ("opposition platform – for life") and Communist Party of Ukraine, who openly agreed to cooperate with the Russian invaders. According to him, many of them held elected positions in local authorities until 24 February.

The minister is confident that the Ukrainian justice system will catch up with them, in particular during the de-occupation. Even if they flee with Russian troops during the liberation of these territories by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, such collaborators will not be able to live and travel in peace.

Background: 

•  On 31 May Security Service of Ukraine personnel detained the leading engineer of the Antonov State Enterprise, who was found to have electronic media with Kremlin propaganda. He constantly called on his colleagues to surrender and cooperate with the Russians and pass on classified information to them.
• On the first day of the large-scale invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine, behind the airfield in Gostomel fierce fighting continued. In the first hours, the Ukrainian armed forces managed to shoot down two enemy helicopters. Local eyewitnesses reported dozens of Russian helicopters firing at the positions of Ukrainian defenders.
• In the late afternoon of 24 February, American reporters announced that the Russian military had entered the airport Antonov State Enterprise. Subsequently, on the evening of the same day the Office of the president confirmed that the airport was seized by Russian invaders.

Police detained a saboteur on 24 February near the airport, who identified himself as a "degenerate".