Russia announced today that about 700 Ukrainian fighters surrendered in Mariupol. Kyiv did not comment on the status of the fighters. A pro-Russian separatist leader noted that Ukrainian commanders are still trapped in the tunnels under the Azovstal iron and steelworks.
The outcome of the bloodiest war in Europe in years remains unclear after Kyiv announced that it had ordered a withdrawal from the garrison at Mariupol. Ukrainian authorities stopped informing the public about the situation of the fighters at the Azovstal iron and steel plant.
Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksandr Motuzaynik said, “The state is making every effort to save our soldiers. Let’s wait. The most important element right now is saving the lives of our heroes. Any information that will be given to the public can harm this process.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that 694 more fighters surrendered at night, bringing the total number of those who laid down their arms to 959. Denis Pushilin, the leader of the pro-Russian separatists, who is responsible for the control of the region, said that the commanders are still inside the factory, according to the local press agency DNA.
Ukrainian officials confirmed that another 250 had surrendered yesterday, but did not say how many more were inside or what might happen to them.
“Unfortunately, the issue is very sensitive and very fragile talks are being held today, so I cannot say more,” said Mariupol Mayor Vadim Boychenko. Boychenko noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Red Cross and the United Nations were also involved in the talks, but did not give further details.
The surrender of Mariupol could end the siege of the city, which has a population of more than 400,000, for the last three months. Ukraine records thousands of civilian deaths due to Russian bombardment in Mariupol.
Ukrainian officials mentioned that prisoner exchanges could be made to rescue the city’s defenders, whom they define as national heroes. Moscow reported no swap deals for the fighters, many of whom it claims are from far-right backgrounds.
The capitulation of the Mariupol iron and steelworks could offer Russian President Putin a rare chance of victory. In recent weeks, Russian forces have begun to withdraw from the vicinity of Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv.
Moscow nevertheless continues its main military campaign, trying to acquire more land in the Donbas region.
Mariupol, the main port of the Donbas region and the city that Russia has so far occupied, allows Moscow to take full control of the Sea of Azov and Russia’s entire territory east and south of Ukraine. The siege of Mariupol was the bloodiest war in Europe since the conflicts in Chechnya and the Balkans in the 1990s.
Russia noted that more than 50 fighters were brought to hospital for treatment in two towns held by pro-Russian separatists, while others were taken to a newly opened prison.
The Kremlin reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally gave the guarantee that those who surrender would be treated humanely. Some senior Russian politicians have called for never a prisoner exchange or for those who surrender to be executed.
Russia expels 85 diplomats
On the other hand, Russia expelled 85 French, Spanish and Italian diplomats today. This step was taken in retaliation for sending a similar number of Russian diplomats to Russia. European countries have expelled more than 300 Russian diplomats since February 24, when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Google, which stated that its Russian unit declared bankruptcy and had to cease its activities after its bank accounts were seized, became the last major Western company to withdraw from Russia.