The Russian Defence Ministry says that nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops holed up in their last stronghold in Mariupol have handed themselves over.
Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Wednesday that 694 Ukrainian soldiers at the Azovstal steel plant have surrendered over the past 24 hours.
That brings the total of Ukrainian troops who have left the plant this week to 959.
The Russian Defence Ministry reported Tuesday that 265 Ukrainian troops, including 51 wounded, had surrendered during the previous 24 hours.
Ukrainian authorities did not confirm the latest numbers.
Konashenkov said that there were 29 wounded soldiers among the 694 troops who had surrendered over the past 24 hours. meanwhile
: Hundreds more Ukrainian evacuated from Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant and taken as prisoners to Russian-held areas of Ukraine, Moscow said. Russian prosecutors called for the regiment that was holed up there to be declared a terrorist organization.
A 21-year-old Russian soldier pleaded guilty to shooting an unarmed civilian in war on Wednesday.
NATO: Sweden and Finland applied for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Leaders from the two countries visit the White House on Thursday to discuss a path forward with President Biden. Turkey’s president repeated his resistance.
The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted its first statement on Ukraine since Russia’s military action began on February 24, expressing “strong support” for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ efforts to find a peaceful solution to the 10-week “dispute.” The short presidential statement approved at a very brief council meeting Friday does not mention a “war,” “conflict” or “invasion” as many council members call Russia’s ongoing military action, or a “special military operation” as Moscow refers to it.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has authorised the shipment of another $150 million in military assistance for Ukraine for artillery rounds and radar systems in its fight against Russia’s invading forces. A US official said the latest tranche of assistance includes 25,000 155mm artillery rounds, counter-artillery radars, jamming equipment, field equipment and spare parts.
