FALL OF MARIUPOL APPEARS IMMINENT, FIGHTERS LEAVE STEEL PLANT
May 17, 2022
By Bob Komsic
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Ukraine’s military says it’s working to evacuate all remaining troops from their final stronghold in the besieged port of Mariupol, giving control of the city to Russia.
The evacuation of about 600 fighters; many wounded, to Russian-held towns, likely marked the end of the longest, bloodiest battle of the war and a major defeat for Kyiv.
Much of Mariupol has been reduced to rubble.
Ukraine’s deputy defence minister says the evacuees will be subject to a potential prisoner exchange with Russia.
”We hope that we will be able to save the lives of our guys,” said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
”Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive.”
The Kremlin says Vladimir Putin had personally guaranteed the prisoners would be treated according to international standards.