A contingent of Ukrainian fighters who doggedly defended a steel mill in Mariupol for weeks have "fulfilled its combat mission," Ukrainian officials said, and efforts were underway to rescue the last of the defenders.
“The Supreme Military Command ordered the commanders of the units stationed at Azovstal to save the lives of their personnel,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in a statement. "Mariupol defenders are heroes of our time."
More than 260 Ukrainian troops, some wounded, were removed to areas controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Kremlin called the exodus a mass surrender. Russian Defense Ministry video shows troops patting down and searching the fighters. Some were on stretchers as they were loaded onto the buses.
An unknown number of troops remained at the sprawling Azovstal steel mill that has for weeks symbolized Ukraine's final holdout in the besieged city of Mariupol. The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday it had come to an agreement for injured Ukrainian troops at the besieged plant to obtain medical treatment under a local cease-fire.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Anna Malyar said 53 seriously wounded fighters were taken to a hospital in Novoazovsk, east of Mariupol. An additional 211 fighters were evacuated to Olenivka through a humanitarian corridor.
“The work to bring the guys home continues, and it requires delicacy and time,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
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Ukraine military command lauds efforts of steel mill holdouts
Maintaining their positions at Azovstal, they did not allow the opponent to shift the grouping of up to 17 battalion tactical groups (about 20,000 personnel) to other directions. Thereby hindered the implementation of the plan for the rapid capture of Zaporozhye, to exit the administrative border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions and to create conditions for the environment of the JFO group.
Forging the enemy's core forces around Mariupol has given us the opportunity to prepare and create the defensive frontiers on which our troops are still present today and give a decent counterpoint to the aggressor. We got the critically needed time to build reserves, regroup forces, and get help from partners.
The most important joint task of all Ukraine and the whole world is to save the lives of Mariupol defenders.
We will fight for you on all fronts as devotedly as you defend the country!
Senate advances $40 billion aid bill for Ukraine
The Senate voted 89-11 late Monday to advance a $40 billion bill aiding Ukraine, likely sending the measure to President Joe Biden to sign into law by the end of the week.
The chamber invoked cloture, capping further debate on the bill and setting up a final vote that will likely be scheduled for later this week.
11 Republicans voted against the measure, including Kentucky's Rand Paul, who single-handedly delayed its quick approval by denying the unanimous agreement needed to begin debate.
— Celina Tebor
Contributing: The Associated Press
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