Russia speaks out about the news that Ukrainian soldiers waved a white flag leaving the "fortress" of Azovstal

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 Russia responded after it was reported that some Ukrainian soldiers had come out of their shelters at the Azovstal factory in the city of Mariupol and waved a white flag of surrender.


"None of the Ukrainian servicemen (coming out of the Azovstal factory) carried a white flag," TASS quoted a representative of Russia's Southern Military District as saying on May 7.


The confirmation came after it was reported that some Ukrainian soldiers waved a white flag of surrender as they left their shelter inside the Azovstal metallurgical plant in the city of Mariupol during an evacuation that began in 5/5.


Russia has announced a ceasefire and opened humanitarian corridors, evacuating civilians from the Azovstal factory within 3 days from May 5-7 between 8 am and 6 pm daily. On the other hand, Moscow claimed that Ukrainian soldiers who were entrenched inside the factory tunnel had to surrender to be evacuated and to ensure their lives.


Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said yesterday that all women, the elderly and children have been evacuated from Azovstal. "We have carried out the President's directive, evacuating all women, the elderly and children from Azovstal. This humanitarian assistance operation is complete," Mr. Vereschuk said on Telegram on the evening of May 7.


The Russian Defense Ministry also confirmed that the three-day evacuation had ended with a total of 51 people being taken out, including 18 men, 22 women and 11 children.


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that since the beginning of the evacuation efforts from the Azovstal plant to date, more than 300 civilians have been brought out. The evacuations were carried out with the support of the United Nations and the Red Cross.


Zelensky said his administration is preparing for a phase 2 evacuation operation, which will focus on the injured and medical staff inside the Azovstal plant. "Of course, we also work hard to evacuate the soldiers, the heroes who are protecting Mariupol. It is not an easy task, but it is very important. We will not stop. Every day we are looking for it. diplomatic options to be able to do this," Zelensky stressed.


The Azovstal Metallurgical Plant is considered the "last bastion" of Ukrainian forces in the strategic port city of Mariupol when Russia controls most of the city. An estimated 1,000 to 2,000 Ukrainian servicemen and civilians are sheltered in tunnels beneath the plant. It is not clear how many soldiers and civilians remain inside Azovstal when Ukraine accuses Russia of continuing air strikes and shelling of the factory.


According to the Ukrainian military, with the support of tanks and artillery, the Russian army once again managed to break through this last line of defense after repeatedly issuing "ultimatums" asking Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms. gas, surrender. However, Ukrainian forces vowed to fight to the end even if the situation was "very critical" as they ran out of food, water and ammunition after weeks of isolation.

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