Among the militants imprisoned at the Azovstal steel mill in southeastern Ukraine’s port city of Mariupol are 78 women, according to pro-Russian separatists. The factory’s defenders also had “enough weapons” with them. Meanwhile, Russia says negotiations are already underway with Kiev over a possible prisoner swap.
On Friday evening, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the steel factory on the Azov Sea, which had been under siege for weeks, had been completely taken over. According to Moscow, a total of 2,439 Ukrainian soldiers have been captured by the Russians since May 16.
Even foreigners among prisoners
“They had enough food and water, they also had enough weapons,” said the chief of separatists in Donetsk, Denis Puschilin. “The problem was the lack of drugs.” According to the separatist leader, six Ukrainian militants died at the steel plant “when they tried to blow up ammunition depots before being captured.”
According to Puschilin, foreigners in Russian captivity were also taken during the action. He did not give a specific number at first.
Will oligarch be exchanged for prisoners?
According to statements by prominent Russian foreign politician Leonid Slutsky, a possible exchange of Ukrainian fighters imprisoned in Mariupol for pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk is under discussion. “We will explore the possibility of replacing Medvedchuk with the Azov fighters,” Slutsky said on Saturday, according to the Interfax agency.
The politician and oligarch Medvedchuk, who was arrested in mid-April, is believed to be the Kremlin’s closest ally, Vladimir Putin, in Ukraine. He is charged with high treason and embezzlement in Kiev. Weeks ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed to exchange him for Ukrainian prisoners.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
