Marines and "Azov" rescue 500 fighters from the port of Mariupol - media
ROMAN PETRENKO — WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL 2022, 16:40
Soldiers of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, together with other units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the National Guard, have successfully conducted a joint special operation to evacuate border guards and police to the "Azovstal" plant [which Ukrainian soldiers are still defending].
Source: local edition of Mykolaiv "Prestupnosty.net", referring to the words of an officer of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade
Details: Mykolaiv Marines and Azov defenders travelled in armoured vehicles to the seaport, where the State Border Guard Service and several units of the National Police were stationed. The latter were running out of ammunition.
Mykolaiv Marines and "Azov" defenders broke through to the Ukrainian fighters. Providing fire cover they were able to take about 500 Ukrainian border guards and National police fighters to "Azovstal".
It is reported that during the implementation of the planned special operation "serious damage was inflicted on the Russian occupying forces."
Background:
- Commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy Serhii Volynskyi (known as Volyna) called on foreign countries to urgently carry out an "extraction" of people from Mariupol - to evacuate several hundred military and civilians from "Azovstal" to a safe place to save them from the Russians.
- Mariupol has been blockaded since 1 March. On 12 April, some Marines were able to break through from the "Ilyich plant" ["Illich Iron & Steel Works" or "Mariupol Metallurgical Plant named after Illich"] to reach representatives of the "Azov" Regiment at the "Azovstal" plant, Some Ukrainian soldiers were captured.
- The Russian army hit "Azovstal" with bombs. On 19 April, Sviatoslav Palamar (Kalyna), deputy commander of the "Azov" Regiment, said that the "Azovstal" plant had been almost completely destroyed and that fighters were pulling people out from under the rubble.
- On 19 April, the Russian Defence Ministry for the third time asked Ukrainian defenders stationed at "Azovstal" to lay down their arms and surrender.
