The Russian siege of this strategic town, located on the shores of the Sea of Azov and which would allow it to be a bridge between the peninsula of crimea and the pro-Russian regions of Donetsk Y Luganskhas given rise to numerous accusations of war crimesincluding that of an attack on a maternity hospital.
The Russian Defense Ministry released a video showing soldiers leaving the plant, some on crutches, after weeks of siege.
“The highest military command gave the order to save the lives of the soldiers of our garrison and stop defending the city“Declared the commander of the Ukrainian Azov battalion, Denys Prokopenko, in a video released on Telegram.
His troops, he added, are still trying to get the dead soldiers out of the plant.
“Now I hope that soon the families and everyone in Ukraine will be able to bury their fighters with honors,” he said.
Ukraine wants to exchange Azovstal soldiers for Russian prisoners, but pro-Russian authorities in the Donetsk region have said some could face trial.
“We expect all prisoners of war to be treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions and the laws of war,” said US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby.
In Ukraine, the first Russian military officer tried for war crimes has asked a “pardon” in a kyiv court, detailing how he killed a civilian at the start of the Russian invasion nearly three months ago. The verdict should be pronounced on May 23.
In recent weeks, Russia has focused its offensive on eastern and southern Ukraine, destroying towns and villages, after seeing its attempt to conquer the capital, kyiv, frustrated.
The Ukrainian resistance from the beginning of the invasion, on February 24, had strong financial and military backing from the United States and the European Union (EU).
On Thursday, the United States Congress approved an aid package valued at 40,000 million dollars.
Russian forces attempt to fully seize the donbas (east), a Russian-speaking area partially controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists since 2014.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said his troops are close to fully controlling the separatist region of Lugansk, also in the east.
The conflict is having negative impacts on the global economy, especially in the energy and food markets.
Russia and Ukraine ensure 30% of world wheat exports and the war has caused grain prices to skyrocket. Russia is also a major exporter of fertilizers.
Source: Ambito
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