The Russian military on Friday said it had “completely liberated” the Azovstal steel plant in the strategic city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine after the last Ukrainian troops surrendered.
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“Since May 16, 2439, Azov (regiment) and Ukrainian soldiers have surrendered to the Nazis trapped in the factory. Today, May 20, the last group of 531 fighters surrendered, “said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov in a telegram.
“The underground facilities at the base where the militants were hiding came under the full control of the Russian armed forces,” Konashenkov added.
According to the source, Russian Defense Minister Vladimir Putin was informed by his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu about the “end of the operation and the complete liberation of the city of Azovstal and Mariupol”.
Igor Konashenkov promised that the militant leader of the Azov regiment had surrendered and was expelled from the factory in a “special armored vehicle” to prevent being attacked by the enemy.
