Russia says almost 2,000 Ukrainian fighters from Azovstal have surrendered so far

By David Lawder and Leika Kihara Posted on May 20, 2022

Service members of pro-Russian troops stand guard in Mariupol

(Reuters) – Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that almost 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers holed up in Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks have surrendered so far, TASS news agency reported on Friday.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the report.

Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters have surrendered from the labyrinth of bunkers and tunnels below the plant, though Moscow and Kyiv have given different estimates on numbers.

(Reporting by Reuters)