Ukraine War: Who are the last defenders of Mariupol, what made them surrender to Russia?

The Ukrainian forces that have firmly held out at the Mariupol steel plant against the Russian army are a combined force of seasoned soldiers, border guards, a controversial National Guard regiment and other elites. Volunteers took up arms in the weeks before Russia launched its special operation in Ukraine.

When Russia announced it had completed its takeover of Mariupol with the surrender of the militants serving as the final obstacle, the Ukrainian government did not confirm the city’s fall. Earlier this week, Ukrainian officials said the soldiers entrenched in the Azovstal steel plant had completed their mission and were being evacuated, describing them as heroes who had completed their glorious mission.

Here is a look at the Ukrainian forces who were taken prisoner by the Russians when they left the factory and what they achieved:

Who are they?

The Russian Defense Ministry said a total of 2,439 Ukrainian soldiers who had been stationed in the Azovstal steel plant had surrendered, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

According to Ukrainian officials, the fighters holding out at Azovstal come from a variety of military and law enforcement units. They took shelter, holding out with civilians in bunkers deep underground.

Among them is the Azov Regiment, of the National Guard of Ukraine; 36th Special Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy and 12th Brigade of the National Guard. Border guards, police officers and territorial defense teams formed just before the war replenished their ranks.

Most of these forces were deployed to defend Mariupol, where a strategically located port was located, at the start of hostilities. Marines from the 36th brigade held the port and another large factory in Mariupol for more than a month, until they ran out of supplies and ammunition.

They moved to the Azovstal steel mill to join the Azov Regiment and some of them were captured by the Russians.

Why does Russia call them fascist nationalists?

When announcing the surrender of the Azovstal soldiers, the main spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense referred to the fighters of the Azov Regiment as Nazis and said their commander was taken away in an armored vehicle because Local residents hated him “for his many atrocities”.

There is no evidence that the regiment mistreats Ukrainian civilians, hundreds of whom take refuge underground with soldiers. The regiment has released several videos shot inside the Azovstal showing its members interacting with civilians and feeding children candy.

However, members of Azov have long been accused of racial discrimination, especially among Russians and Jews in Ukraine. Russian reports say 14,000 people in the Donbass region have been killed by members of the far right. These Azov members also tattooed the fascist swastika symbol on their bodies.

The National Guard unit grew out of a group called the Azov Battalion, which was formed in 2014 as one of many volunteer brigades that have stepped up support to the Ukrainian-led and deprived army. in the war against Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

That conflict erupted after mass protests forced the president of pro-Russian Ukraine to leave office.

The methods by which the Azov Battalion recruits soldiers and some of their tactics have been met with criticism. In the many statements made, representatives of the Azov Battalion have always denied the accusations that they are fascist nationalists. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the regiment, said in a recent interview from the steel mill that he prefers the term “patriotism”.

What made them surrender to Russia?

As Mariupol became a symbol of Ukrainian suffering and resistance during the war with Russia, Ukrainian officials repeatedly emphasized the role of the fighters at Azovstal in defending the city and preventing further invasion. Russian advances elsewhere.

“Ukrainian troops in Mariupol have performed a feat, drawing the elite forces of the Russian army to their side and significantly slowing the Russian advance in the southeast,” Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said.

After the plant’s defenders received orders to end their duty, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the move was right and humane because “Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. That’s our principle. “.

Soldiers defending Mariupol “will go down in history as the Thermopylae of the 21st century,” said Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine’s president, as the fighters began leaving the factory after stopping a significant advance by troops. Russia and change the course of the war”.

Thermopylae is considered by many to be one of the most glorious defeats in history, in which 300 Spartans defeated a much larger Persian force in 480 BC, but ultimately failed to win. win.