Ukraine Says More Than 260 Soldiers Evacuated From Mariupol Steel Plant

Buses carrying Ukrainian Azovstal servicemen arrive in Novoazovsk, © Reuters/ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO  

Reuters: Ukrainian force begins evacuating from last Mariupol stronghold  

KYIV/MARIUPOL, Ukraine (Reuters) -The force holed up in the last Ukrainian stronghold in the besieged port of Mariupol began evacuating on Monday, appearing to cede control of the city to Russia after months of bombardment. 

Five buses carrying troops from the Azovstal steelworks arrived in the Russian-controlled town of Novoazovsk late on Monday, some 32 kilometres (20 miles) to the east, a Reuters witness said. 

Some of the evacuated troops were wounded and carried out of the buses on stretchers. Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Anna Malyar said 53 were taken to a hospital. 

It was not immediately clear how many troops were aboard the buses. Malyar said 211 other troops were taken to another site. Some 600 troops were believed to have been inside the steel plant.  

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Update #1: Ukraine strikes deal to evacuate around 50 wounded fighters from Mariupol Azovstal factory (FOX News)  

Update #2: Ceasefire reached to evacuate wounded from Azovstal plant in Ukraine’s Mariupol (AFP)  

Update #3: Injured troops to be evacuated from Azovstal – Moscow (RT)  

WNU Editor: There was no military point to stay in the steel plant. These Ukrainian soldiers have been surrounded for weeks, and their supplies had run out. The only question that remains unanswered is .... are there any Ukrainian soldiers left in this steel plant.