Open Question: Why Chongar became an open gate for the enemy and what is Azerbaijan here

Photo: The invasion of Russian troops on February 24, 2022 through CHONGAR KPVV

Why did not blow the bridges on Chongar: basic versions

Chongar is a isthmus that connects Crimea with the mainland of Ukraine. It was of great strategic importance because it is a key connection point between Crimea and other regions. After the occupation of the peninsula in 2014, the administrative between Ukraine and the occupied peninsula passed on Chongar. And it was then that the first displacements were carried out in the area.

Today, there are several versions why the Russians have been able to break through Chongar and why the bridges have not been blown up. Among them:

• Lack of proper preparation for defense and mistakes of military leadership. Despite the fact that Ukrainian political leadership was aware of the threat of a full -scale invasion, enough fortifications and engineering barriers were not built in the south of the country. There is also suggested that the mistakes of the military leadership of Ukraine contributed to the breakthrough of Russian troops through Chongar. It is not excluded that the explosion could lose its efficiency due to wear, improper storage, or discharged detonators, or there could be problems with a remote blast.
• Demanding bridges through Chongar by 2022. According to one version, the bridge through Chongar was exchanged before the full -scale invasion in 2022, which allowed the Russian troops to overcome it without interruption. A number of investigators, media, bloggers and military were assumed that it could be made in 2022 in the framework of the Chongar KPVV.
• Numerical advantage of the enemy. According to the Ukrainian military, Russian troops had a significant numerical advantage over the Ukrainian forces, which allowed them to quickly break through the defense and move deep into our territory. And it was difficult to deminister under pressure from the enemy.
• Diversion or Work of enemy agents together with Ukrainian traitors. There is a version that enemy forces have conducted a pre -demining operation or damaging explosive devices, making it impossible to use them at a critical time. It is not excluded that the Russian agency could act through Ukrainian traitors among the military or in the local authorities, which could sabotage the order for undermining or consciously not to prepare/damage objects.

Azerbaijani trace in Chongar’s demining?

According to one of the theories, Chongar could be exchanged before the full -scale war as part of the CPVV renewal and the launch of transportation between the checkpoint and the Admin with occupied Crimea. It is known that then the Ukrainian authorities concluded a memorandum with the Azerbaijani state company SOCAR on the renewal of the CPVV. However, public details and arrangements were not disclosed.

UA.News media contacted SOCAR with a request to comment on details of agreements with the authorities of Ukraine on CHPVV “Chongar”, as well as information about the possible mine clearance of the KPVV during work. Socar noted that they were not ready to comment on this issue.

Chronology of events at Chongar KPVV

We present the chronology of events at the CPVV “Chongar” in accordance with the theory of mine transitions before the full -scale war. This version states that Chongar could be exchanged from the beginning of construction work at the KPVV in 2019 until February 2022, when they launched road transportation from the administrative to the KPVV.

Photo: Updated KPVV Chongar

In September 2019, the reconstruction of Chongar KPVV began. First of all, reconstruction completed For a record 2 months. During this time, the road surface, sidewalks and capital buildings were repaired for comfortable citizens’ service. According to Yuri Gusev, the head of the Kherson Regional State Administration, the reconstruction of Chongar and Kalanchak KPVV cost about UAH 100 million. The money was received from donors, he stated, not specifying from whom.

In December 2019, Chongar KPVV completed the construction of the service area. Subsequently on February 11, 2020 in the CHONGAR KPVV service zone Opened Center for Administrative Services (CNAP).



A few months after the reconstruction of CHNGAR KPVV On February 26, 2020, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at the Age of Crimea Forum in Kiev announced Cooperation with the Azerbaijan State Company SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic) to open a convenient hub for citizens with a full CNAP in the CDVV.

“The state, together with SOCAR by the end of the year, will open a large hub on Chongar to serve citizens. There will be a full -fledged administrative service center, recreation area and other very important objects ”

May 5, 2020 during a visit to Kherson region Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories in the Person of Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister Alexei Reznikov, Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, represented the chairman of Ivan Yuryk’s board as well as the company “Sokar Energy Ukraine” (Socar) in the face of Sergei Kolechenko signed Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation To organize a comfortable crossing of the administrative border with the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by Ukrainians.

At the end of November 2021, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Irina Vereshchuk arrived With a working trip to Kherson region and visited, in particular, the CHPVV “Chongar”. She announcedthat competitions for those who want to participate in the service of the KPVV service zone start from January 2022. At the same time, Irina Vereshchuk announced the intention to organize transportation for citizens from the Ukrainian CPVV “Chongar” to the administrative.

Photo: Rein Minister Tegration of temporarily occupied territories Irina Vereshchuk during a visit to Kherson region

In November 2021 in the media appeared Information that the Azerbaijani company SOCAR began to build at CHONGAR KPVV) and the shop that will be part of the hub, which is planned to be equipped at the checkpoint.

“Answering the question of Depo.Herson’s correspondent about why this company was working at CHPVV, Vereshchuk replied that only the Azerbaijanis responded to the proposal for cooperation, because among the Crimeans who use the KPVV services, so many Crimean Tatars and Azerbai a way to help single believers’

February 14, 2022 Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories Irina Vereshchuk announced the launch of transportation from admin to the KPVV on Chongar and Kalanchak “a week earlier”.

“On November 23, 2021, she promised that within three months the Ministry of Reintegration team will launch rods at Chongar KPVV and “Kalanchak ”: from the checkpoint to the administrative. Today, the rods went. The task is completed. A week earlier. Separate thanks to the governor of Kherson region Gennady Laguti, Deputy Minister of Reintegration Alexei Beard and Director of the State Enterprise “Reintegration and recovery ”

Photo: buses that had to run from CHNGAR and Kalanchak KPVV to the Administration with the occupied Crimea

10 days after running transportation – On February 24, 2022, Russian troops passed through Chongar and Kalanchak.

Could the Chongar mine even before the full -scale war: for and against
Which testifies against Chongar’s demining during work on the KPVV

Today, there are a number of evidence that refutes the version that the bridges have not been replaced before the start of a full -scale invasion. For example, the chairman of the Kherson Regional Council Alexander Samoilenko on the air of Radio NV He denied Data that the demining could take place during the construction of the KPVV since 2019.

“It occurred in a fairly small area. It is almost in the context of the road that goes in the village of Kalanchak and Chongar. I do not know the location (mine fields – ed.) And I will not take on myself (responsibility – ed.) That they exist. But the dismantling of minefields during the construction of the KPVV did not happen ”

Also, the head of the Kherson Regional Council denied information that the demining of bridges allegedly took place a few weeks before the full -scale invasion of the Russian Federation during the launch of rods on the initiative of Irina Vereshchuk.

“There was such a version that Mrs. Vereshchuk, when she went to the post of Deputy Prime Minister, came, “The bus started. For this purpose the mine barrier was eliminated. In fact, all the actions that were happening took place at the overpass. This is the road that cars went. It has not been replaced ”

So, according to Samoilenko, the road on which these rods were run was not replaced. We will remind that the administrative with the occupied Crimea, to which these buses went was on the bridge.

Photo: Admander between KPVV Chongar and occupied Crimea (white line)

Also, the words of a number of servicemen, who indicated that the bridge was replaced in 2014, immediately after the occupation of the Crimea, was also evidenced by the CPVV reconstruction.

For example, General Sergey Naev, who was the commander of the United Defense forces of Ukraine at the time of the invasion of the Russian Federation in 2022, in interview The UP noted that the bridges were replaced in 2014. But in his words, it follows that the laid mines were not enough for a good repel.

“(In 2014 – ed.) In the Crimean direction, our military drew a little trenches, there were several brigades, then they replaced five bridges with is isthmus: two on the Arabat arrow, which were blown up by the overhead method. Directly on Chongar three bridges – two automobile and one railway. There were explosives, just over 1500 min. In order to be prepared for the rustle, there should have been 200 thousand mines. ”

Naev added that the subordinate military command on the night before February 24, 2022 was proven information “to bring the readiness of these bridges to blast”.

“This direction was subordinated to the troops group “South ”, and there was a separate battalion on this isthm. And in this battalion there are servicemen who undermine these bridges. Accordingly, on the night before the offensive, when I proved to the commander that tomorrow was an attack, including I told the commander of the group in this direction to bring the readiness of these bridges to blast. And when the offensive took place, those soldiers had bridges to blow up. But we need to imagine that they have undermined the bridges not work – ordinary people, such as you, such as me. And they had to do it when bombs flew, rockets ”

Ivan Sisterivtovsky’s military in an interview with the UP claimsthat he was responsible for undermining the bridges on Chongar. The undergoing did not succeed, in the opinion of Sisterivskyi, due to a technical malfunction, which could be caused by damage to the blasting paths with an hostile sabotage group or fragments of shelling.

“I tried to do the blast, but there was no explosion. I would have to see him. I stood at the bridges, on the first line. He tried to reconnect, to cross the wires: maybe some mistake happened, something was wrong. I connected again, tried again. Three times did it – the explosion did not happen. I’m not a sapper, but there are two options. Either a sabotage group was planted, or the blasting wires were damaged by mortar shelling. And then already acted by order – it was necessary to go to other positions ”

Which testifies to the version of Chongar’s demining while updating the CPVV

At the same time, Lieutenant General and Hero of Ukraine Hryhoriy Omelchenko is in question The words of the military sister and suggests that the true information and extent of the mine is hidden. He suggests that Sisterivsky could be instructed by the SBU and the President’s office that it was necessary to speak in an interview with journalists.

“The authorities decided to resuscitate the theme of” Chongar “in a favorable light and showed the people of the” sergeant-shooter “, who took on all responsibility for not undermining the Chongar bridges, which led to the rapid admiration of the Russian troops of the south of Ukraine …”

According to Omelchenko, the demining of the territory around Chongar could be discussed at the summit “The Norman Four” December 9, 2019 in Paris, at the initiative of Angela Merkel at the request of Russian President Putin. However, there are no confirmations of this version.

“According to my confidential information, at the closed meeting of the Norman Four, at the initiative of Merkel (at the secret request of Putin), the parties discussed the Humanitarian Question on the Dmining of Territories around Chongar, Kalanchak and Chaplink with Crimea with “the purpose of ensuring the safety of citizens of both parties”

There are also unconfirmed theories that between President Putin and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev could be an agreement on Chongar’s demining, so that Socar allegedly built his terminal there.

Thus, according to General Omelchenko, the demining could be carried out before the fall of 2021 (before Ivan Sisterivatovsky, who had to undermine bridges, joined the service in the Chongar area).

“In the fall of 2021, Ivan Sisterivatovsky began to serve on Chongar as a platoon chief sergeant, was a deputy platoon commander. In this interview, he emphasized: “There was no mine.” Everything is true, Mr. Chief Sergeant! Long before your arrival in Chongar’s service, all Chongar bridges and anti -tank mine fields around him were already exchanged, so “there were no mine”

Former MP Igor Mosiychuk also mentioned Azerbaijani. IN interview For our media, Mr. Mosiychuk noted that Socar wanted to build an oil depot on Chongar. And allegedly under that was demining.

“I now have a question: if the taboo is removed, then Irina Vereshchuk does not want to tell how she checked, why was Chongar made? Does not want. Well, I name the name. The people who agreed to build the base under SOCAR were exchanging under it, and then the enemy went there, and so on. The Azerbaijan Corporation wanted to build a base there. Oil depot. And under it concluded a large contract, under it was exchanged ”

Subsequently, in a comment for UA.news Igor Mosiychuk specifies that he was unknown for sure whether they were going to build a terminal there, but he knows that a large complex was planned in the CPVV “CPVV”, including gas stations, because cars that carry people from the administrative With Crimea and to the KPVV, they must be refuel somewhere.

“Before the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, the Socar Corporation decided to build terminals in the Chongar area. The project was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, and a peaceful mine was conducted. That’s the whole story with Chongar mine. Someone was going to build a terminal or not collected – I am unknown … There was a huge complex there, both recreation and transshipment. Well, of course, if large cars stop there, there should be a base, they have to refuel somewhere ”

According to Igor Mosiychuk, much of Ukrainian politicians could receive some benefits from Socar – from free gasoline and even to funds. If this is true, SOCAR theoretically had the opportunity to obtain a memorandum with the Ukrainian authorities on CPVV Chongar, but there is no evidence for this theory.

“Ukrainians should be aware that most Ukrainian politicians have been corrupt through SOCAR Azerbaijan corporation. This applies to both peacetime and war. Corrupt by giving free right to refuel there, money. Placement of materials in the media and the like. This is the reason for the support of the large part of our Ukrainian political party Azerbaijan. Whatever Azerbaijan did not do – he violated the rights of people or conducted openly invading actions against Armenia. They support Azerbaijan because it ring in the pocket. And this is a well -established practice that has been operating in the last 20, and perhaps 25 years old ”

Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with a team from the President’s Office with Donter, purchased at the gas station of SOCAR near Boryspil in May 2019

We contacted SOCAR and asked whether the company cooperated with any state or local authorities of Ukraine in the issues of giving fuel coupons to representatives. However, this issue in SOCAR refused to comment.

What is known about the criminal investigation into the Chongar Bridges?

The State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) was opened in mid -April 2022. At the same time, the Security Service of Ukraine can also be relevant to the investigation. Former Minister of Reintegration Occupied Territories and Ex-Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexei Reznikov in an interview with the UP statedthat in Chongar’s case “Facts all today gather, recorded, including security service, counterintelligence”.

According to a number of Ukrainian media, the case is investigated under part 1 of Article 111 (State betrayal) and part 3 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code (negligent attitude towards military service).

In the case of defense of the Kherson region, exclusively military Armed Forces of different levels appear, wrote BBC. Although for testimony SBU Chairman Vasyl Malyuk, also appeared in the case of the ex-head of the Crimean head of the SBU Oleg Kulinich, who was detained in July 2022 in Kiev and declared suspicion of state treason (Article 111 (1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and the creation of a criminal organization (Article 255 of the Criminal Code Ukraine). Investigators believe that Kulinich has worked on the FSB of the Russian Federation since 2019.

The investigation of the case is currently underway by DBR staff, but the details are practically not publicly disclosed.

Was it possible to prevent the rapid occupation of the South if the bridges in Chongar were blown up

According to law enforcement officers, if the bridges, dams, roads and other measures were undermining were carried out, it would make it impossible to have such a quick offensive of Russian troops from the territory of the occupied peninsula.

In the plot of the Criminal Proceedings of the DBR, for data Glavcom’s media, it is said that investigators establish “the circumstances of possible state treason and improper organization of measures for the defense of the mainland of Ukraine and the possible non -organization of defense borders, in particular mines of structures, bridges, dams, roads for their further blasting.”

The head of Gur Kirill Budanov was too convincedthat the situation in the south could develop differently if the bridges on Chongar were blown up.

“If the transitions were undermined and the first hours developed a little differently, the Russian army would not be able to move at such a speed. This is an axiom”– said Budanov.

At the same time statement k Olyshny Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexei Reznikov in an interview with the UP, undermined bridges on Chongar would not slow down the radical promotion of Russian troops.

“All who scream “Everything was gone, the bridge was not blown up, ”listen first and foremost to the military. And they will tell you that there are 10 more aisles from Crimea, not bridges. And so undermining the bridge would not affect the possibility of Russians to move in this direction. This is responsible for one of the military generals who are now in the political opposition, I heard it for the first time. ”

In addition, Reznikov in the same interview stressed that the issue of miners and replacement “does not refer to the competence of civil power at all. Neither the government, the president, the Minister of Defense, the Prime Minister, nor to the People’s Deputies. This is a purely military question”.

By information Major-General Andriy Sokolov, who at that time commanded the defense of the South, the promotion of Russians on Chongar became possible because their forces were larger than the Ukrainian forces. In an interview for the UP, the general also recalled that in addition to the bridges on Chongar, the temporarily occupied Crimea was combined with the mainland territory of Ukraine and land isthmus.

“All bridges and dams are located on the Chongar Peninsula, in the Melitopol direction. In the other direction – on Kalanchatsky, on Kherson, let’s say so, there are no bridges. There are two land isthmus: one on a challet goes, one is on Kalanchak »

Similar version of April 25 2022 He said The General Staff of the Armed Forces, for the first time commenting on the situation on Chongar.

Instead of conclusions

The issue of demining/not Chongar remains extremely controversial due to the lack of transparency in official explanations and the closure of the investigation. The lack of public reporting on the course of the investigation only feeds on conspiracy theories and gives space for numerous versions. This situation increases the distrust of society with power and enhances conspiracy theories. The more information is classified, the more speculations arise around the topic.