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Some Mariupol steelworks defenders appear to be under evacuation by RussiansThe Ukrainian unit holed up beneath the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol said on Monday its garrison was fulfilling orders to save the lives of troops, an apparent indication that the long siege has reached an important new stage.
It is not clear if this is the beginning of the end of the siege or whether the last stand continues by those Ukrainian troops not wounded.
The fighting at Azovstal in ruined Mariupol has symbolized Ukrainian resistance throughout Russia’s nearly three-month invasion. Most civilians who had sought shelter at the vast Soviet-era plant were evacuated earlier this month, Reuters reports.
“In order to save lives, the entire Mariupol garrison is implementing the approved decision of the Supreme Military Command and hopes for the support of the Ukrainian people,” the Azov Regiment said in a social media post.
Here’s a little more from the accompanying video that one of the unit’s senior commanders,
DenysProkopenko, posted.
The main thing is to realise all the risks, is there a plan B, are you fully committed to that plan which must allow for fulfilling the assigned tasks and preserve the lives and health of personnel?
This is the highest level of overseeing troops. All the more so when your decision is endorsed by the highest military command.”
Prokopenko did not spell out what action the defenders were taking. The video was released hours after Russia said it had agreed to evacuate wounded Ukrainian soldiers to a medical facility in the Russian-controlled town of Novoazovsk.
Ukraine estimates tens of thousands of civilians died in Mariupol during months of siege by Russian forces who destroyed the Sea of Azov port, a city of around 400,000 people.
The last defenders, including many who were wounded, had been holding out for weeks in bunkers beneath Azovstal, one of the largest metallurgical plants in
Europe.
The Russian defense ministry said it established a “humanitarian corridor” to evacuate wounded Ukrainian troops to Novoazovsk, about 45kms east of Mariupol in an area under Russian control.’
