More than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers surrender

A turning point is emerging in the battle for Mariupol: According to Russia, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who fought to the end for the port city have laid down their arms.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, more than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been taken prisoner in the fighting for the port city of Mariupol. There are 1,026 members of the 36th Marines Brigade, said Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov. This information was initially not verifiable. The Major General said that 162 officers and 47 women were among the prisoners. Konashenkov spoke of a “success”.

The fighters surrendered to units of the Russian army and Moscow-loyal separatists from the Donetsk region, to which Mariupol belongs. The separatists had previously reported the capture.

There was no confirmation from the Ukrainian side. A spokesman for Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said he had no information on the matter. Russian media recently reported that around 3,000 Ukrainian fighters were still holding their ground in Mariupol. That number would have dropped by a third.

Russia reports more rocket attacks

Before an expected major offensive by Moscow in eastern Ukraine, Konashenkov also reported new rocket attacks by Russian planes and warships in his daily situation report. Among other things, two large weapons depots were hit. Four attack helicopters were destroyed in an attack on an airfield in Myrhorod in the Poltava region.

Overall, the Russian officer spoke of 46 other destroyed military objects in Ukraine. The attacks would continue. A major offensive in Donbass in eastern Ukraine is expected in the next few days, where Russia wants to bring the Luhansk and Donetsk regions completely under the separatists’ control.