(ANSA) – ROME, MAY 17 – Ukraine has confirmed the evacuation of 264 soldiers from the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. These are 53 wounded soldiers, taken to Novoazovsk, and 211 other fighters brought to Olenivka, in the territory controlled by the pro-Russian separatists of Donetsk. The latter were then brought back to areas in the hands of Ukrainian forces as part of a prisoner exchange. This was reported by the General Staff of Kiev on Facebook.
“The ‘Mariupol’ garrison has completed its combat mission. The Supreme Military Command has ordered the commanders of the units stationed in Azovstal to save the lives of personnel”, the Ukrainian General Staff said, specifying that “the initiatives relief efforts to the defenders remaining on the Azovstal territory continue “.
“Mariupol’s defenders are the heroes of our time. They are forever in history,” continued the Kiev command.
“By holding positions in Azovstal, they did not allow the enemy to transfer groups of up to 17 battalion battle groups (about 20,000 personnel) to other areas.
This prevented the implementation of the plan for the rapid capture of Zaporizhzhia, access to the administrative border of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions “and” gave us the opportunity to prepare and create defensive lines, where our troops are today “, explained the General Staff.
“We hope to be able to save our kids”, because Ukraine “needs living heroes, and I think any sensible person will understand these words.” This was stated by President Volodymyr, quoted by the Ukrinform agency, confirming the start of the evacuation of the military who for 82 days defended the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. The Ukrainian army and intelligence in collaboration with the Red Cross and the UN participate in the operation, added Zelensky.
(HANDLE).
Source: Ansa
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