The Battle of Mariupol City is over! Russia claims 1000 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered
The Russian Defense Ministry says nearly 1,000 Ukrainian fighters have surrendered at the Azhovstal plant in the war-torn city of Mariupol so far this week. Russian troops stormed the plant on 19 April and destroyed large areas of it. However, despite the large number of Russian troops, Ukrainian soldiers stood for several days.
Fighting over in the port city of Mariupol?
But meanwhile, Russia claimed on Wednesday that some 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered at a major Mariupol steel plant. Simultaneously, Ukrainian troops stopped defending a site that was a symbol of the country’s resistance. Following the development, fighting in the port city of Mariupol appears to have ended.
“The future of the Ukrainian troops is uncertain”
In fact, there were earlier reports that Ukraine ordered its fighters to save their lives, saying their mission to counter Russian troops was now complete, but did not ask soldiers leaving the plant to surrender. As a result, the future of Ukrainian troops looks uncertain. Ukraine says it is looking forward to exchange prisoners of war, while Russia is looking to take some of them for war crimes.
However, it is not clear how many fighters remain inside the plant. At the same time, this city of Ukraine has largely turned into a pile of rubble. Russia’s Defense Ministry has said that nearly a thousand Ukrainian soldiers hiding in the last area under Ukrainian occupation in the city of Mariupol have left.
Russia wants to stop the exchange of fighters
Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konshenkov said on Wednesday that 959 Ukrainian soldiers had left the Azhovtal steel plant since Monday. Russia’s parliament plans to bring a resolution on Wednesday to stop the exchange of Azov fighters, Russian news agencies reported. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hannah Malyer said talks were on for the release of the fighters.
“The most influential international mediators are engaged in this work,” Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelensky said, noting that Russia has targeted Mariupol since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine.
Russian soldier confesses crime
Meanwhile, a Russian soldier facing trial in Ukraine’s war crimes cases has pleaded guilty to killing a civilian and could face a prison term. The government of the Czech Republic unanimously approved the request for NATO membership of Finland and Sweden just hours after it was submitted.
