The battle for the Ukrainian city of Mariupol may be coming to an end. The strategic port city, located in the country’s southeastern corner, has been under Russian attack for months.
Despite a valiant effort by defending Ukrainian troops, Mariupol is now primarily controlled by the Russians. A total surrender of Mariupol would give Moscow a reason to celebrate as their campaign appears to be faltering on many fronts.
The Russians have outnumbered the Ukrainian forces in recent weeks throughout Mariupol. The last remaining Ukrainian soldiers were evacuated out of the Azovstal steel plant earlier in the week.
This massive plant had been distinguished as the last holdout for the Ukrainians as they fought to keep control of Mariupol.
The general staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ordered the commanders of the units positioned in the steel plant to save the fighters’ lives still in the facility. This steel plant had been a symbolic sign of the resistance of the Ukrainians.
However, the Russian forces are painting a different picture of what is happening within Azovstal.
According to Russia’s defense ministry, 694 Ukrainian fighters surrendered in the overnight hours Wednesday into Thursday, which brings the total number of Ukrainian surrenders to 959.
Meanwhile, Denis Pushiilin, a pro-Russian separatist leader from within the country, said that some of the Ukrainian commanders were still positioned in the tunnels that run under the steel plant.
Ukrainian authorities in the capital city of Kyiv have not confirmed this report. Instead, Ukrainian military spokesman Oleksandr Motuzaynik said that “any information to the public could endanger that process,” defending the decision to remain silent about what was happening inside Azovstal, according to Reuters.
Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko echoed this sentiment, calling the subject “very sensitive.” Boichenko did confirm that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the United Nations, and the Red Cross are all involved in the talks regarding any Ukrainian soldiers that may still be trapped in the plant.
The ongoing negotiations regarding the plant and the surrender of Mariupol are happening as Finland and Sweden officially apply to join NATO. Fear of NATO expansion was the rationale for Russian President Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine back in February.
The decision of these two countries to join the global alliance would signify the most significant change to European security in years. Should the deal go through, NATO would gain control over almost all of the coast of the Baltic Sea while also doubling its land border with Russia.
