2,449 defenders left Azovstal, all are in the temporarily occupied region of Donetsk – the source
ROMAN PETRENKO, ROMAN ROMANIUK — THURSDAY, 9 JUNE 2022, 13:08
All 2,449 people who left Azovstal are now in Olenivka, an urban-type settlement in the Donetsk region.
Source: contact person at Ukrainian Intelligence, article by Ukrainska Pravda titled "’Island of hope’. How did the Azovstal defenders get out and what is happening with them now"
Quote: "All those who left Azovstal are now in Olenivka (pre-trial detention centre in an urban-type settlement near Donetsk - ed.). There are 2,449 of our people there."
Details: The article says that the agreements with the Russians turned out to be simple and concrete: the fighters must stay alive, no torture, separate detention for those from Azovstal, and preparation for their exchange.
Reminder: Previously, Russian propagandists wrote that the defenders of Azovstal had been taken to the Russian Federation.
Read more: "’Island of hope’. How did the Azovstal defenders got out and what is happening with them now"
Background:
- Mariupol was blockaded by Russian troops on 1 March. From the end of April, the defenders of Mariupol were stuck in the Azovstal plant: they included representatives of the "Azov" Regiment unit of the National Guard, marines, border guards and policemen. They asked the world to rescue them: the marines asked for "extraction", while the Azov Regiment asked that at least the wounded soldiers be evacuated.
- On 16 May, the Russians continued to try to enter the plant or block the exit from the bunkers of Azovstal, and then stated that they had allegedly agreed with Ukrainian defenders to evacuate wounded soldiers to Russian-occupied territory.
- The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the "Mariupol" garrison had fulfilled its combat mission and now the commanders were given an order to save the lives of the personnel. The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine explained that there was no other way to save the defenders of Azovstal, except to go out under the control of the occupiers.
- Western media reported that on 17 May, at least seven buses with Ukrainian fighters under the control of the Russian occupiers left "Azovstal". 256 defenders, including 51 wounded, were taken to the colony in Olenivka. Ukrainian fighters will be interrogated.
