The parents of the defender of “Azovstal” call on the world to save the fighters from Mariupol/Collage 24 channel< p _ngcontent-sc87="" class="news-annotation">The situation at Azovstal continues to deteriorate. The Russian invaders are mercilessly shooting at the plant where the Ukrainian defenders are located. Among them is 21-year-old junior sergeant Artem with the call sign “Weiss”, whose parents are calling on world leaders to immediately help evacuate fighters from Mariupol. Then – a direct speech by Tatyana and Stavr Vishnyakov.

From the age of 14, my son wanted to serve in the regiment of the defenders of Mariupol. He even transferred to another specialty in order to quickly graduate from college, and at the age of 18 he was already going there. We suddenly found out about this – he invited me and my husband to the graduation. However, I persuaded him to wait another year.

At the age of 19, he brought a bundle of papers and said: “I'm definitely going.” From the expression on his son's face, it became clear that he could not be dissuaded. So he served in the regiment for the last three years. During the last contact, my son, as usual, did not say anything bad: “It's okay. All chiki farts, mom. We beat the invaders.”

I always ask: ” How much food do you have left?” To which he replies: “That's enough for three years.”

Artem, defender of Mariupol/Photo from the personal archive of “Weiss”

In the early days of a full-scale war, he was more worried than my husband and I. We live in the Brovarsky district – next to Velyka Dymerka. There were very heavy battles.

On February 24, the son called us on the phone and urged his father to take a passport and go to the military registration and enlistment office. He stressed: “Either we are all of them, or they are all of us.” My husband Stavr still serves in the defense industry.

Tatiana and Stavr Vishnyaki with their son Artem/Photo courtesy of the editors

We liked to walk in the park near the Drama Theater building in the evening when we came to Mariupol. There are such fountains and flower beds!

I ask my son: “Why do they need a city now? It's gone. Only ruins remain.” The son said: “Remember Terrible? It's even worse here.”

Our relatives in Russia tried to tell that America started the war in the country with Ukraine, but we don't understand anything. But they don't touch me because they know where my child is.

During Tatyana's story, her son called her on the phone. From Azovstal. They talked for 15 minutes. The most valuable for today.

The son apologized for not being able to type and congratulate on Mother's Day. He makes sure he's doing great. He will starve, but will give his piece of bread to another. I always ask him not to calm me down.

He only sometimes asks: “Well, how is it? Do you hear something about us?”. What should I say to him?

Therefore, I appeal to our government and the whole world: please return my son to me. He is only 21 years old. He has already been to hell, let him come back to earth and see the sun! He proved himself worthy of it! The only wish is for him to hug me!

The defender's father, Stavr Vishniac, supports his wife and emphasizes that the authorities and leaders of the whole world must influence the situation and bring home their son and other fighters.

I call for the evacuation of all defenders from the blocked “Azovstal”, civilians, wounded and military, to carry out the “extraction” procedure. Every day there is someone's life!

Artem in the regiment of Mariupol fighters/Photo courtesy of the editors

You can sign a petition calling for the rescue of all fighters on the territory of Azovstal here. The appeal is addressed to the UN and its head António Guterres.