Senior Ukrainian commanders have not yet surrendered from the labyrinth of shelters and galleries under the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, the leader of the Russian-backed Donetsk separatist region said today.
Nearly 1,000 Ukrainian fighters who had been fortified in the galleries have surrendered to Russian and pro-Russian forces since Monday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry says 694 Ukrainian soldiers – including members of the Azov Battalion – have been surrendered in the past 24 hours, including 29 wounded.
It was unclear whether the top commanders would leave the factory, or possibly wage a final, deadly battle with the Russian forces they consider occupiers of their homeland.
“There are no top-level commanders (among those who surrendered) – they have not left,” said Denis Pushilin, leader of the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic, which was officially recognized by President Vladimir Putin just three days before the invasion of Ukraine.
“This is – so far,” said Pushilin, who along with Russian forces controls Mariupol, according to the Donetsk news agency known as DAN.
It was unclear what would happen to those fighters who were described by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as heroic resistance fighters but whom Russian lawmakers consider “Nazi criminals” to face the heaviest punishment, even death.
Courts
Pushilin said the fate of the surrendered Ukrainian fighters would be decided by the courts.
“As for the war criminals as well as those who are nationalists, their fate, if they surrender their weapons, will have to be decided by the courts,” he said.
Moscow claims that the Azov Order, which began as a far-right, nationalist, paramilitary organization, is a group of anti-Russian nationalist fighters who characterize them as modern-day supporters of the Nazis.
President Vladimir Putin has said that what he describes as a “special military operation” is necessary in Ukraine to prevent persecution of Russian-speakers and to prevent the United States from using Ukraine to threaten Russia.
Ukraine says Putin is trying to oust the country and denies that Kyiv is persecuting Russian-speakers.
The Kremlin has said the fighters will be dealt with in accordance with international rules. Ukraine has said there will be an exchange of prisoners of war.
Civilians hiding in the shelters spoke of desperate conditions in these areas. Some of the fighters had suffered serious combat injuries.
Source: Capital
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