Almost 700 more Ukrainian fighters have surrendered in Mariupol, according to Russian officials, as the nearly three-month long siege in the Black Sea town nears an end. More than a day after Ukraine announced it had ordered its garrison in Mariupol to stand down , the ultimate outcome of Europe’s bloodiest battle for decades remained unresolved. Ukrainian officials declined to comment publicly on the fate of fighters who made their last stand at the Azovstal steelworks plant, holding out as Mariupol was taken over by Russian forces. “Any information to the public could endanger that process.” Russia said 694 more fighters surrendered overnight, bringing the total number of people who had laid down arms to 959. The leader of pro-Russian separatists in control of the area, Denis Pushilin, was quoted by local news agency DNA as saying the main commanders were still inside the plant. It remained unclear if they would leave the plant, or possibly even fight a last battle with the Russian forces. Ukrainian officials had confirmed the surrender of more than 250 fighters on Tuesday but they did not say how many more were inside. Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Red Cross and the United Nations… Read full this story
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