Donetsk, Mar 22 - DAN. Donetsk People’s Republic militiamen and Russian forces found a secret prison after capturing the Mariupol airport where gunmen from “Azov” (organization banned in the DPR) had tortured people, the DPR People’s Militia press service reported on Tuesday.

“The allied DPR-Russian liberation forces succeeded in taking control of the Mariupol airport which Ukrainian nationalists had used as a military unit,” the press service said. “Each terminal showed signs of military use of its premises. They kept large quantities of weapons, ammunition and food there.”

Every room in the terminal was used for a specific purpose; there were makeshift barracks and food units. A prison was found where they had kept and tortured people; supposedly it was the notorious secret prison “Biblioteka” (Library).

“Iron doors with slots for passing food and conversations; there were several such rooms and an area for walks in the end of the windowless corridor, with barbed wire at high ceilings,” the DPR militia said. “Ukrainian nationalists set up a veritable prison on the airport premises where they had tortured to death innocent people. At present, DPR law-enforcers are investigating these war crimes.”

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of the operation aimed at denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine. On the same day, the DPR and LPR forces launched a liberation movement in the Donbass region. Clashes for Mariupol began on February 24; the city was fully blocked in the course of the fighting. The mopping up operation against Ukrainian invaders, in particular gunmen of the Neo-Nazi group “Azov” continues.  Earlier reports said that the elimination of 36th Marina Brigade on the Mariupol axis is nearing completion. *jk