On May 20, Russia announced that it had “completely liberated” the Azovstal plant, the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the coastal city of Mariupol overlooking the Sea of Azov, after the last Ukrainian soldiers who were inside surrendered.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, more than 2,000 soldiers have taken over at the factory, most of them from the Azov Battalion.
Denis Monastirsky said late Friday that Ukrainian intelligence services were in contact with the captured fighters who were at the factory, according to “Reuters”.
He added that Kyiv is doing its best to secure their release.
Mystery surrounds the fate of hundreds of fighters who were detained by Russia in mid-May after it demanded that they surrender.
It is not clear how Kyiv is in contact with its captured soldiers.
“Through them (intelligence services) we learn about the conditions of detention, nutrition and the possibility of their release,” Monastirsky told Ukrainian television.
“We all know they will be here, in Kyiv, and we are doing our best to do so.”
Russia said in May that nearly 2,000 Ukrainians had surrendered after their last attempt at resistance in the rubble of Mariupol, holding out for weeks in bunkers and tunnels under Azovstal steel plants.
Kyiv wants the fighters back in a prisoner exchange deal. Some senior Russian lawmakers have called for some soldiers to be prosecuted.
The Kremlin said fighters who surrendered would be treated according to international standards.
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