The Russian army said on Friday it had “completely liberated” the Azovstal steel plant in the strategic city of Mariupol, in southeastern Ukraine, following the surrender of the last Ukrainian soldiers present there.
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“Since May 16, 2439 Nazis from the Azov (regiment) and Ukrainian servicemen stuck in the factory have surrendered. Today, May 20, the last group of 531 fighters surrendered,” Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a statement posted on Telegram.
“The underground facilities at the site, where the fighters were hiding, came under the full control of the Russian armed forces,” Konashenkov added.
According to this source, Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed by his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu of “the end of the operation and the complete liberation of the combine (Azovstal) and the city of Mariupol”.
Igor Konashenkov assured that the chief of the fighters of the Azov regiment on the spot had surrendered and had been evacuated from the factory in a “special armored vehicle” to prevent him from being attacked by hostile inhabitants.