2023-05-20 11:30:13
On May 20, 2022, they finally gave up: the defenders of Azov Steel held out in Mariupol for 86 days. Their resistance inspires the country, but the fighters also pay a high price.
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- A year ago on May 20, the last defenders of the Azov Steelworks in Mariupol surrendered.
- The Ukrainian soldiers held out on the huge factory premises for 86 days.
- The resistance encouraged the country at the beginning of the war. For the anniversary, a look back at the place of resistance and its capitulation.
As an important strategic city, Mariupol is one of the first targets of Russian troops. A capture would not only make it possible to secure a land route to the Crimea, but would facilitate sea transport in the Black Sea.
After the comprehensive invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army, together with the troops of the «Donetsk People’s Republic», are rapidly advancing on the city from three directions: On March 2 – just a week following the start of a war – Mariupol is completely encircled.
Battle of Azov Steel begins
On March 18, 2022, the battle for the Azov-Steel Metallurgical Combine begins. The site of the smelter is not only a huge complex, but also offers protection for soldiers and the civilians who hide with them with a large underground network.
About a thousand of them – including many children – flee from the Russian shelling in the tunnels and bunkers of the plant. The defenders are recruited from the 36th Marine Brigade, police, border guards and the domestic secret service SSU as well as soldiers from the National Guard and the army, with the Azov regiment being particularly noteworthy.
Airlift to the smelter
On March 21, the Ukrainian military intelligence service conducts its first risky supply flight, which is actually considered impossible to carry out. Helicopters are said to fly into the besieged city at extremely low altitude.
The start takes place at Dnipro Airport: From there it goes along the front line to the southeast to the Azov Sea, and then follows the coast to Mariupol. The Ukrainians dare a total of seven such missions – and can thus deliver ammunition, material and medicines. They take 72 soldiers to Mariupol and fly out 63 seriously wounded.
By April 15, all remaining Ukrainian troops retreat to the metallurgical plant. The Azov regiment in particular loses many fighters in defense.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has repeatedly given the Ukrainians in Mariupol an ultimatum to lay down their arms and allow the Russian army to move in. But the defenders refuse and continue the fight.
On April 18, the Russian Air Force used super-heavy FAB-250 and FAB-3000 aerial bombs for the first time. They should pave the way for the ground troops into the tunnels of the plant.
The night of April 28, 2022 is particularly violent: the plant is bombed in a total of 50 air raids until dawn. Because tunnels, but also the ceiling of an underground hospital, collapse, there are many injured.
At the beginning of May, the Kremlin allowed the evacuation of civilians who are still on the factory premises for the first time. They will be transported east.
After negotiations between Kiev and Moscow, the evacuation of the first soldiers from the area begins on May 16. At this point, around 600 mostly wounded Ukrainians are at the site, 40 of whom are seriously injured. Security guarantees are given by the United Nations and the International Red Cross.
The tweet above reads: “And that’s it. I thank you from the protection of Azov steel, the place of my death and my life.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared that day: «We hope that we can save our boys alive. Among them there are seriously wounded, they are being helped. I want to emphasize that Ukraine needs living heroes, that’s our principle.”
On May 20th the evacuation of the garrison is completed, the soldiers who surrendered are taken prisoner of war by the Russians.
But the people are not safe: Moscow has refused the Red Cross the promised visits to the inmates. On the night of July 29, 2022, more than 50 Ukrainian prisoners were killed in an explosion at the Russian penal colony in Olenivka in the Donetsk region: Videos show charred bodies lying between metal bunk beds.
Four months following the capitulation in the iron and steel works, there is an exchange of prisoners: On September 21, 2022, 225 Ukrainians – including Azov steel fighters – are released. You must remain in Turkey until the end of the war.
The liberation of the Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol remains an issue: 700 soldiers of the Azov regiment are still in Russian captivity.
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