Russia, Ukraine: 900 Mariupol fighters sent to Russian prisons

1 hour ago

image source, EPA

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Ukrainian fighter detained by Russian soldiers from the Azovstal steel plant

The Russian government said More than 900 Ukrainian fighters who settled in the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol were sent to prisons in the Donetsk region. which is under Russian occupation

Earlier, Ukrainian authorities had ordered the militias to surrender in accordance with the terms of the deal with Russia. to save their lives After being stranded in the midst of a Russian army blockade and has been facing a shortage of food and drinking water for weeks.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on May 18 that 959 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered since May 17, of which 51 have been taken for treatment. injury The rest were taken to the Russian prison in Olenifka. which is an area under Russian control in the Donetsk region. in the eastern part of Ukraine

image source, Archyde.com

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Russia allows Ukraine to move out of the last group of soldiers fighting in defense of steel mills. After an agreement was reached that these soldiers would later be exchanged with prisoners of war captured by Ukraine,

AFP news agency citing information from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense that expressed hope There will be an expedited repatriation process of these Ukrainian heroes.

Their fate is unknown, however, with Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov refusing to say the Ukrainian fighters will be treated as criminals. or prisoners of war

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has pledged to do so. “Everything necessary” to help those stranded in the tunnel network and the bunker complex at the Azovstal steel plant. Denis Pushchilin, a pro-Russian separatist leader, said: More than half of Ukrainian fighters have left the steel plant now.

The news comes following Russia claimed a strategic victory from the collapse of an army attack on Mariupol. Meanwhile, military operations in the Donbas region continued.

image source, Archyde.com

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Ukraine’s defense ministry praised fighters who fought in defense of the Azovstal factory as Able to complete missions as assigned But in the long run, they might not resist the enemy. Or hit a tight breakout out.

Earlier, Russian officials said Russian forces have given way to Ukraine to move the last group of soldiers fighting to defend the steel plant. After an agreement was reached that these soldiers would later be exchanged with prisoners of war captured by Ukraine,

Archyde.com reported that More than a dozen buses were used by Ukrainian authorities to transport wounded soldiers out of the factory on the night of May 16. Some Russian state media also released footage from the video. It shows a wounded Ukrainian soldier being transported from the factory in a field stretcher.

image source, EPA/RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY PRESS SERVICE HANDOUT

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Wounded Ukrainian soldiers were transported to Novoazovsk. which is in the Russian influence area

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation to move the wounded soldiers took place. as a result of cooperation between the armed forces intelligence and Ukrainian negotiating team including assistance from the International Red Cross and the United Nations.

Mr Zelensky said “Ukraine wants its heroes to survive,” he cautioned, however. Immediate release of the remaining forces in the Azovstal Steelworks. not easy Because it will take a long and delicate negotiation.

There are no confirmed reports yet. How many Ukrainian troops are left at the factory? The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense hailed the forces fighting in the defense of the Azovstal factory. Able to complete missions as assigned But in the long run, they might not resist the enemy. or hit a tight breakout

Ukraine’s Supreme Command posted a Facebook message saying: The soldiers in the Azovstal Factory were heroes. that enabled Kiev to successfully defend once morest an attack from the south. “The fact that they stood there fighting Help block the way from the enemy’s movement of 17 tactical battalions. The total was regarding 20,000, thus eliminating the possibility that Russia would quickly seize Zaporizhia and Kiev. according to their plans.”

The Azov Battalion, Ukraine’s main force, was at the plant. also made a statement on social media that Their soldiers agreed to drop their weapons and move out of the Azovstal factory. According to the terms of the agreement between the Russian and Ukrainian authorities in order to save the lives of soldiers in the troops as much as possible