According to a media report, two captured commanders of Ukrainian units at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol have been taken to Russia for questioning. They are the deputy commander of the Azov regiment, Svyatoslav Palamar, and the commander of the 36th Naval Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Serhiy Volynsky.
Russian special forces brought the two men from Donetsk to Russia for investigation, the Tass news agency reported Saturday evening. She quoted an unnamed insider in the Russian judiciary. “Other officers from various Ukrainian units were also transported to Russia,” Tass quoted the insider as saying.
There is uncertainty about fate
Initially, there was no response from Ukraine. The Kiev leadership announced earlier this month that its secret services were in contact with the captured fighters at the steel mill. Hundreds of militants were captured by Russian forces in May after the months-long siege of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine. There is uncertainty about her fate.
Originally far-right voluntary militia
The Azov Regiment is an all-volunteer infantry unit originally formed in 2014 as a far-right voluntary militia fighting against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The regiment and unit of the 36th Marine Brigade played a key role in defending the steelworks in the port city of Mariupol. Only after weeks of siege and constant shelling by the Russian army did the Ukrainian units surrender.
The Ukrainian government wants to achieve the surrender of all fighters through a prisoner exchange with Russia. In early June, Russian authorities announced that more than 1,000 Azovstal fighters had been taken to unknown locations in Russia for research purposes.
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.
