Crimean Islyamov removed from the post of commander of his own battalion

Lenur Islyamov is no longer in charge of the volunteer 48th separate assault battalion named after Noman Chelebidzhikhan, which he founded.

This was stated by the battalion's soldiers in a video message on January 17.

According to the battalion's soldiers, they recently completed a difficult task in the Donetsk region, despite the lack of intelligence information. They noted that the battalion needed recuperation after being redeployed to Pokrovsk, but still fulfilled the order.

"We proved our courage and effectiveness: not a single lost position, dozens of successful assault operations, liberated settlements in Donetsk region! However, instead of being able to recover, 10 days ago we were transferred from one hot area to another - to Pokrovsk," the military said.

The soldiers emphasized that their commander Lenur Islyamov formed a battalion of 90% volunteers, including fighters from Crimea and other occupied territories, who have the same goal as the commander to return their homes.

Now, due to the change in leadership, the fighters fear that the unit's combat capability may decline. They do not name the new commander.

"Changing the commander at a critical moment is not just a breach of trust, it is an undermining of our combat capability, and even the destruction of us as a combat unit. We urge you to stop and save the battalion, which has proven its loyalty on the battlefield with blood," the military said.

Islyamov himself confirmed the information to Ukrayinska Pravda, saying that the change of commander at such a critical moment could seriously affect the combat capability of the unit and undermine the trust of the soldiers.

Earlier, a Kremlin-controlled Crimean court sentenced in absentia to 19 years in a maximum security prison colony the general director of the ATR TV channel and vice president of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars Lenur Islyamov. The Russian court accused him "of organizing sabotage, creating an illegal armed group and calling for the violation of the integrity of the Russian Federation."

Ірина Глухова