Russia claims 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers in Azovstal Plant have surrendered
The Russian Defense Ministry said that a total of 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers entrenched in the Azovstal Plant in Mariupol have surrendered since May 16.
771 Ukrainian soldiers of the Azov Battalion, who have been holed up in the Azovtsal Iron and Steel Plant in Mariupol for weeks, have surrendered, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said on May 19.
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| Smoke rises from the Azovstal Iron and Steel Plant area on April 18 after being shelled by Russian forces. Photo: Reuters. |
"In the past 24 hours, 771 soldiers of the nationalist Azov Battalion at the Azovstal Plant in Mariupol surrendered. In total, 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered since May 16, including 80 wounded," Konashenkov announced.
Meanwhile, the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic Denis Pushilin said that more than half of the Ukrainian security forces surrounded at the Azovstal Plant in Mariupol have left and the process is still ongoing.
"More than half of them have come forward, laid down their weapons and surrendered," Denis Pushilin said, adding that medical assistance was provided to those in need.
Ukraine has yet to make any announcement about the number of people who have left Azovstal or the status of prisoner exchange negotiations with Russia./.
