53 fighters in serious condition were taken to the hospital in the occupied Novoazovsk, another 211 soldiers were brought to Yelenovka through the gum corridor. Focus in one article collected information about how the wounded defenders of Mariupol were evacuated.
The wounded Ukrainian servicemen of the special forces regiment of the Azov National Guard were evacuated from the Azovstal plant to the territory not controlled by Ukraine. The special operation to rescue the fighters was carried out with the participation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN. Focus in one article collected information about how the wounded Ukrainian soldiers were taken out of Mariupol.
On Monday evening, May 16, information appeared in the media about the beginning of the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian servicemen who were holding the defense in Mariupol. Reuters journalists filmed a convoy of buses leaving the Azovstal steel plant to the territory not controlled by Ukraine.
According to media reports, the wounded Ukrainian servicemen who were evacuated from Mariupol were taken to the hospital in occupied Novoazovsk, where they will be provided with the necessary medical care.
The media also claimed that the evacuation of seriously wounded soldiers of the Azov regiment was carried out as a result of an exchange of prisoners, and not the capitulation of the Mariupol garrison.
In a traditional evening video message, Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the information about the evacuation of seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen from Mariupol. According to the head of state, the operation was carried out with the participation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military intelligence, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN.
“Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle. I think every reasonable person will understand these words. The operation to rescue the defenders of Mariupol has been launched by our military, intelligence officers. To return the guys home, work continues, and this work requires delicacy and time. We maintain maximum diplomatic activity in other areas in the interests of Ukraine,” – Zelensky summed up during a video message.
The Main Intelligence Directorate reported that 53 seriously wounded servicemen were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant to the occupied Novoazovsk, where they will be provided with the necessary medical care. Another 211 Ukrainian soldiers were taken through the humanitarian corridor to Yelenovka, which is not controlled by Kyiv.
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, for the speedy return of military personnel, Ukraine will conduct a prisoner exchange procedure with Russia.
“With regard to the defenders remaining on the territory of Azovstal, all the necessary rescue measures are being carried out by the efforts of our state. Thanks to the defenders of Mariupol, Ukraine received vital time to accumulate reserves, regroup and mobilize forces and receive assistance from the allies. Unfortunately, today Ukraine cannot unblock Azovstal by military means,” – military intelligence summed up.
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar confirmed that 53 seriously wounded soldiers were taken to hospitals in occupied Novoazovsk. According to her, the Mariupol garrison fully completed the tasks set by the military leadership.
The Ukrainian servicemen, who held the defense at the Azovstal steel plant, did not allow the rf Armed Forces to carry out plans to quickly capture Zaporozhye, enter the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which would lead to the encirclement of the military group in the Donbass. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also called the defenders of Mariupol the real heroes of Ukraine.
“This is a separate special forces detachment” Azov “, the 12th brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, the 36th separate brigade of the marines, border guards, policemen, volunteers, the territorial defense of Mariupol. Forging the main enemy forces around Mariupol allowed us to prepare and create defensive lines where our troops are and today they give a worthy rebuff to the aggressor,” – the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine emphasized.
The commander of the special forces regiment, Denis Prokopenko, said in a video message that the servicemen blocked at Azovstal had complied with the order of the leadership. According to him, “in order to save lives, the entire Mariupol garrison is fulfilling the approved decision of the high military command.” Denis Prokopenko also noted that the Azov Regiment is counting on the support of the Ukrainian people.
Recall, on May 16, information appeared in the media that Ukraine and russia agreed to evacuate wounded Ukrainian servicemen from the territory of the Azovstal plant. Russian journalists claimed that they plan to take the soldiers to the occupied territories of Donbass.
According to https://focus.ua
