After nearly a month of barricading themselves along with civilians taken as last second hostages, the neo-Nazis Ukrainian Battalion known as Azov has surrendered to Russian forces planked on the Eastern front of Mariupol.
The Nazi regiment hid out within the walls of the Azovstal iron and steel plant for 26 days without food, fresh water sources and no clear supply route for ammunition and weapons.
A total of 265 Azov members surrendered to Russian forces, with 4 being listed as going AWOL during the conflict. The remaining members were forced to exit the back of the facility with hands in the air once Russian forces broke the self-made barricade placed at the opening of the mill.
Sources estimated that around 2,200 people were held hostage in the basements of the huge Azovstal complex during the extensive battle.
Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday it was working to evacuate all remaining troops from their last stronghold.
The prevailing concept being pushed by western particularly American media reflect the sentiment that Azov “prevented” Russian troops from operating in other nearby theatres including the Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions, the former holding several US-Ukrainian coordinated supply routes.
However, with the fall of Mariupol, its become frighteningly clear just how much progress the Kremlin has made in its siege of the Ukraine. Mariupol’s siege marks one of the longest and bloodiest battles of the Ukraine war and a significant defeat for Ukraine.
According to Anna Malyar, who is the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense, the Azov members who surrendered may be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war previously taken captive by Russian forces. However, the terms of the exchange have not yet been decided. Moscow has not yet made any public statements about an exchange.
–Sylvester Loving, B1,Daily
B1Daily 