The Combat Path of "Tatarin": The Story of Marlen Misiratov
Friends, the story of today’s hero is too vast to fit into a single post. This is just the beginning of a tale about an extraordinary warrior who traveled a challenging path from a volunteer to a professional soldier.
Marlen Misiratov: From "Right Sector" to Frontline Battles
Marlen Edemovych Misiratov, known by his call sign "Tatarin," was born in 1978. His military career began in the Dnipropetrovsk branch of "Right Sector," where he proved himself to be a brave and decisive leader. Thanks to his exceptional qualities, he quickly earned the respect of his comrades and became the commander of a reconnaissance unit in the "Dnipro-1" battalion.
On August 12, 2014, during a combat mission, Marlen fell into an ambush, sustained severe injuries, and was taken prisoner. The story of his release is a drama filled with incredible courage and will to live.
The Ambush and Horrors of Captivity: Marlen Misiratov "Tatarin"
August 12, 2014, marked a tragic day for a group of volunteers, including the commander of the reconnaissance unit, Marlen. Their mission was humanitarian — to exchange four russian captives for a deceased Ukrainian soldier. However, this journey turned into an ambush, where most comrades perished.
The Route into the Trap
Thirteen fighters from the "Right Sector" volunteer corps set out toward Donetsk. Leading the convoy was a "Niva" vehicle carrying "Tatarin" and two comrades, followed by a bus with other fighters and prisoners. Armed only with rifles and without body armor, they were unprepared for combat, as their mission was peaceful.
As the group approached a sandbag-fortified checkpoint, they came under heavy fire. russian-separatist forces opened fire with automatic weapons and grenade launchers. The attack was so intense that survival seemed almost impossible.
The Fight
Within minutes, most of the Ukrainian fighters were killed. Of the 13, only three survived: Marlen Misiratov and brothers Oleh and Andriy Martynov. Though severely wounded, they remained alive. Marlen, concussed and injured, injected himself with painkillers and attempted to keep firing. When his strength was exhausted, he was captured.
Captivity: Torture and Attempts to Break the Will
Marlen endured unspeakable trials in captivity. He was beaten, interrogated, and intimidated.
“They tried to extract confessions: who I was, where I was from. I firmly stated I belonged to the 'Dnipro-1' battalion. Had I admitted to being a 'Right Sector' fighter, they would have executed me on the spot,” Marlen recalls.
Prisoners were forced to sleep on the ground, while others lay on beds with white sheets, creating an atmosphere of animosity. Psychological and physical abuse was relentless. Marlen was subjected to mock executions, with shots fired over his head, aimed at breaking his spirit.
Adding to the challenge was the fact that Chechen mercenaries fighting for the enemy offered money for a public execution of "Tatarin" as a Muslim. However, a russian officer overseeing prisoner exchanges refused, citing principles of military honor.
Exchange: The Fight for Freedom
Eventually, an exchange was arranged. Marlen, along with two comrades and one Ukrainian Armed Forces lieutenant colonel, was traded for 12 separatists and a russian major. Even during the exchange, tensions remained high.
“When I heard the exchange might proceed without me, I couldn’t bear it and ran towards our side — naked, with a catheter in my body. The enemy driver chased after me, shouting to stop. When he prepared to shoot, our soldiers acted first. That moment saved my life,” Marlen recounts.
When he reached his comrades, he mustered the strength to address the russian officer: “Tell your people they’ve lost Tatarin.”
For his exchange, Marlen is personally grateful to Hero of Ukraine, Valentyn Mykolayovych Manko, with whom he has stood shoulder to shoulder defending the state ever since.
The Combat Path of "Tatarin": The Story of Marlen Misiratov
Friends, the story of today’s hero is too vast to fit into a single post. This is just the beginning of a tale about an extraordinary warrior who traveled a challenging path from a volunteer to a professional soldier.
Marlen Misiratov: From "Right Sector" to Frontline Battles
Marlen Edemovych Misiratov, known by his call sign "Tatarin," was born in 1978. His military career began in the Dnipropetrovsk branch of "Right Sector," where he proved himself to be a brave and decisive leader. Thanks to his exceptional qualities, he quickly earned the respect of his comrades and became the commander of a reconnaissance unit in the "Dnipro-1" battalion.
On August 12, 2014, during a combat mission, Marlen fell into an ambush, sustained severe injuries, and was taken prisoner. The story of his release is a drama filled with incredible courage and will to live.
The Ambush and Horrors of Captivity: Marlen Misiratov "Tatarin"
August 12, 2014, marked a tragic day for a group of volunteers, including the commander of the reconnaissance unit, Marlen. Their mission was humanitarian — to exchange four russian captives for a deceased Ukrainian soldier. However, this journey turned into an ambush, where most comrades perished.
The Route into the Trap
Thirteen fighters from the "Right Sector" volunteer corps set out toward Donetsk. Leading the convoy was a "Niva" vehicle carrying "Tatarin" and two comrades, followed by a bus with other fighters and prisoners. Armed only with rifles and without body armor, they were unprepared for combat, as their mission was peaceful.
As the group approached a sandbag-fortified checkpoint, they came under heavy fire. russian-separatist forces opened fire with automatic weapons and grenade launchers. The attack was so intense that survival seemed almost impossible.
The Fight
Within minutes, most of the Ukrainian fighters were killed. Of the 13, only three survived: Marlen Misiratov and brothers Oleh and Andriy Martynov. Though severely wounded, they remained alive. Marlen, concussed and injured, injected himself with painkillers and attempted to keep firing. When his strength was exhausted, he was captured.
Captivity: Torture and Attempts to Break the Will
Marlen endured unspeakable trials in captivity. He was beaten, interrogated, and intimidated.
“They tried to extract confessions: who I was, where I was from. I firmly stated I belonged to the 'Dnipro-1' battalion. Had I admitted to being a 'Right Sector' fighter, they would have executed me on the spot,” Marlen recalls.
Prisoners were forced to sleep on the ground, while others lay on beds with white sheets, creating an atmosphere of animosity. Psychological and physical abuse was relentless. Marlen was subjected to mock executions, with shots fired over his head, aimed at breaking his spirit.
Adding to the challenge was the fact that Chechen mercenaries fighting for the enemy offered money for a public execution of "Tatarin" as a Muslim. However, a russian officer overseeing prisoner exchanges refused, citing principles of military honor.
Exchange: The Fight for Freedom
Eventually, an exchange was arranged. Marlen, along with two comrades and one Ukrainian Armed Forces lieutenant colonel, was traded for 12 separatists and a russian major. Even during the exchange, tensions remained high.
“When I heard the exchange might proceed without me, I couldn’t bear it and ran towards our side — naked, with a catheter in my body. The enemy driver chased after me, shouting to stop. When he prepared to shoot, our soldiers acted first. That moment saved my life,” Marlen recounts.
When he reached his comrades, he mustered the strength to address the russian officer: “Tell your people they’ve lost Tatarin.”
For his exchange, Marlen is personally grateful to Hero of Ukraine, Valentyn Mykolayovych Manko, with whom he has stood shoulder to shoulder defending the state ever since.
The message was not authentic, with the real Zelenskiy soon denying the claim on his official Telegram channel, but the incident highlighted a major problem: disinformation quickly spreads unchecked on the encrypted app. NEWS Russian President Vladimir Putin launched Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the early-morning hours of February 24, targeting several key cities with military strikes. For example, WhatsApp restricted the number of times a user could forward something, and developed automated systems that detect and flag objectionable content. He said that since his platform does not have the capacity to check all channels, it may restrict some in Russia and Ukraine "for the duration of the conflict," but then reversed course hours later after many users complained that Telegram was an important source of information.
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