Stephen Lendman: Liberating Mariupol Entirely Draws Near
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry: 💬 “In the (Donetsk) city of Mariupol…as a result of successful offensive operations by the Russian armed forces and police units of the Donetsk People’s Republic, 1,026 Ukrainian servicemen of the 36th Marine Brigade voluntarily laid down their arms and surrendered in the area of the Ilyicha metals factory.” Included were “162 officers and 47 women soldiers.”
Over 150 wounded Ukrainian forces were given medical assistance at the scene, then taken to Mariupol’s hospital for further treatment. Earlier this week, Mariupol’s port was entirely liberated. Other than small numbers of isolated snipers, remaining largely Nazified Ukrainian fighters are holed up in Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant. With little or no food and dwindling ammunition, their surrender or annihilation is just a matter of time.
According to the Donetsk News Agency: 💬 “The Russia-led coalition formed assault groups to neutralize nationalistic formations at the Azovstal plant, the DPR People’s Militia said,” adding: “Assault units have been prepared for operations in complex industrial buildings, which use rocket-propelled infantry flamethrowers to destroy the positions of the Azov Nazis.” Things are proceeding as planned.
Coalition assault teams gear up for taking Azovstal under control (Donetsk News Agency)