The last defenders of Mariupol are being evacuated

Baku/17.05.22/Turan: In Mariupol, at the Azovstal plant, the defenders of this last stronghold of the Ukrainian army in the city occupied by Russian troops are being evacuated. 

The withdrawal of fighters is carried out under the mandate of the UN and the International Red Cross, according to the telegram channel of Mariupol.

So far, the fighters are being taken to the territory controlled by Russian troops and, according to the agreements, an exchange of prisoners of war will take place later.

The Ukrainian army heroically held the plant for more than 80 days and was forced to lay down their arms for humanitarian reasons - most were exhausted by the lack of food, dozens of soldiers were seriously injured.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ordered the Azovstal soldiers to leave in order to save their lives.

 President Volodymyr Zelensky did not call the retreat a capitulation.

Previously, hundreds of civilians, mostly women and children, who also took refuge in the plant, were evacuated under the auspices of the UN.—0—