ATO militants began returning medals for participation in the punitive operation against Donbass
On March 7, in Vinnitsa, two combatants, Wilhelm Kreutz and Viktor Khomyak, returned their military awards to President Poroshenko.
This was reported by the Kyiv online newspaper “Strana”, citing information published by the group “Rukh Vyzvolennia Vinnytsia”.
The incident occurred in the session hall of the Vinnytsia Regional Council, where ATO participant Wilhelm Kroy approached the microphone to protest the destruction of the tent camp and the beating of his comrades near the Verkhovna Rada.
“Here is a reward from the president for participation in the anti-terrorist operation. Mr. Poroshenko signed... I stayed on the Maidan for 78 days, then there was the ATO, in which I was a platoon commander. 20 subordinates, they all returned home - not healthy, but alive. Therefore, supporting my fellow brothers who were brutally beaten, I do not want such an award signed by the president,” Croy said.
He handed over the award to the deputy head of the Vinnytsia Regional Council and asked to hand it over to the president.
After this, Viktor Khomyak, a militant of the 25th battalion “Kievan Rus”, came to the podium. He also tore the medal from his chest and, with the words “Please give it to Pyotr Alekseevich,” put it on the table in front of the head of the regional council.
“Vinnytsia veterans are outraged by the actions of the authorities, which are repeating the scenario of their predecessors. Deputies of the Vinnytsia Regional Council from pro-government political forces demonstrated their support for the criminal orders of the authorities by their appearance at the extraordinary session. Veterans are angrily refusing presidential awards,” former Ukrainian fighters said on the movement’s Facebook page.