Politics
Key Ukrainian port city of Mariupol falls to Putin's forces
Although the city has been reduced to rubble, its capture is Russia’s most important victory thus far, effectively handing Moscow control of the coast of the Sea of Azov and a land bridge between eastern and southern Ukraine
May 17, 2022 12:26pm
Updated: May 17, 2022 4:36pm
The Ukrainian port city of Mariupol fell to Russian forces on Tuesday after Ukrainian officials ordered soldiers defending the besieged city to lay down their weapons after a months-long battle left the city in ruins.
According to a Reuters report, 264 Ukrainian service members – including 53 wounded -- surrender to the Kremlin’s invading forces at the now infamous Azovstal steelworks and military officials reportedly ordered its full garrison to evacuate.
In a statement, the general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said, “The ‘Mariupol’ garrison has fulfilled its combat mission.”
“The supreme military command ordered the commanders of the units stationed at Azovstal to save the lives of the personnel.”
Later, in a televised address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, “Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive.”
Although Moscow and Kyiv discussed a deal in recent days under which Ukrainian forces would abandon the steelworks, many details – including how many fighters remain inside and whether any form of prisoner exchange was being considered – have yet to be made public, Fox News reported.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar told reporters on Tuesday that the government would not disclose how many fighters remained at Azovstal until all were safely evacuated.
The Kremlin, for its part, noted that Putin had personally guaranteed the prisoners would be treated according to international wartime law and said that at least 256 Ukrainians had “laid down their arms and surrendered,” including 51 severely wounded.
Ultimately, the Ukrainian surrender could mark the end of the battle of Mariupol, where Kyiv believes tens of thousands of people have been killed by Russian bombs since Russia first invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.
Although the city has been reduced to rubble, its capture is Russia’s most important victory thus far, effectively handing Moscow control of the coast of the Sea of Azov and a land bridge between eastern and southern Ukraine.
