Russia planned to capture Mykolaiv according to the Mariupol scenario.
Major General Dmitry Marchenko, who commanded the defense of Mykolaiv at the beginning of the full-scale war that russian Federation started against Ukraine, told about the defense of the city, in an interview to the “NikVesti”.
“We were attacked according to Mariupol's plan - to surround, to displace all (Ukrainian. - Ed.) troops in the city center, to some object, say, a plant named after 61 Communards, cut off the electricity, water, and kill us until we go crazy, and until we run out of ammunition, food, water.” - Marchenko noted.
He said, that in early March, enemy columns of tanks moved to Mykolaiv in three directions - from Stanislav, Posad-Pokrovsky, and Kirovohrad highway. On 4 March, the occupiers' equipment arrived at Kulbakino airfield.
The Major-General noted, that he had revealed the enemy's plan to distract Ukrainian defenders. So anti-tank police groups arrived at the airport. They recaptured the airfield. This allowed the Ukrainian artillery to attack the main russian forces.
Marchenko says - the main military operations took place outside Mykolaiv.
“If they came to the city, that would be all - it would be Bucha, Irpin,” said Major-General.
Marchenko noted, that it was possible to repel attacks of russians on Mykolaiv thanks to the established effective communication.
“Our victory is caused by strongly organized communication that we had - with villages, with OTG, with people. We used it in the beginning, that`s why we didn't allow here even columns - columns couldn't even come close” - the head of defense of Mykolaiv emphasized.
We are reminding, that on the night of 23 May invaders shelled Mykolaiv from missile systems of volley fire “Tornado”.
On 22 May the mayor reported that Mykolaiv was once again fired at by cluster shells.