Since Monday, approximately 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered at the Azovstal steel complex in Mariupol, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
According to Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, 959 Ukrainian troops, including 80 wounded, have put down their guns and surrendered since May 16.
He confirmed that 51 wounded were sent to the Novoazovsk hospital, which is located in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
Konashenkov said that 694 Ukrainian “militants” had surrendered at Azovstal on the previous day alone.
The DPR provided comparable data, claiming that 962 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered since May 16.
The Ukrainian side has not provided an update on the number of people who have left Azovstal, nor has it provided an update on the status of discussions for their exchange for Russian inmates.
The majority of the Azovstal troops appear to have been moved to Olenivka, a town close the battle lines but in DPR territory.
Background: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday that negotiations with Russia to evacuate the final soldiers from the Azovstal steel complex are ongoing.
It comes after the “combat mission” of Ukrainian soldiers at the facility, which had been the final significant holdout in a city otherwise controlled by Russian troops for weeks.
Ukraine has stated that it plans to exchange Russian prisoners of war for the critically injured servicemen.
