The first 260 Ukrainian fighters were able to leave the Asov Steelworks in Mariupol. However, they were taken to Russian-controlled territory. But there is a glimmer of hope. A picture symbolizes this in particular. This happened in Ukraine tonight.
After weeks of blockade, around 260 Ukrainian soldiers have left the Azov steelworks in Mariupol, according to the authorities. Among them were 53 seriously injured, said the Ukrainian general staff on Facebook on Monday. 211 other Ukrainian fighters were also brought to the town of Olenivka, which was occupied by Russian troops.
They are said to return later in a prisoner exchange. The seriously injured were transported to the city of Novoazovsk. The evacuation of the other defenders of the Azovstal Steelworks is still in progress.
“Life will conquer death. And the light will overcome the darkness.” That’s what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says. And no picture could symbolize this better than that of a photographer from the besieged steelworks in Mariupol outer wall of the plant falls.
On Monday, the first 260 Ukrainian fighters were extricated from the steelworks thanks to the help of the Red Cross and the United Nations (see above). Fighters are still holding out in the steelworks – there is hardly any water left, hardly any medication. The evacuation of the other trapped fighters is currently being negotiated.
The military situation:
Bitter fighting around the strategically important small town of Izyum in eastern Ukraine continues. The Ukrainians managed to destroy a Russian ammunition depot on Monday. Again and again the Ukrainian fighters succeed in hitting the Russian supply lines. The troops thus prevented further Russian offensives in the region.
On Monday, Putin’s troops are said to have carried out ground attacks in Lyman, Bakhmut, Kurakhove, Shandrygolove and around the major city of Donetsk. However, these should all have proven to be ineffective.
The Yavoriv military training area near the western Ukrainian city of Lviv is currently used by the United States to train Ukrainian fighters. Recently, the Russian army fired half a dozen rockets at the base. According to information from the US Department of Defense, there were no casualties and only minimal damage. On March 13, Russian shelling killed 40 people there. 135 other military personnel were injured.
Read more about the course of the war in Ukraine in the news ticker.
The political developments:
The currently most urgent topic, slightly apart from the fighting in Ukraine, is the approaching NATO accession of Finland and Sweden. On Monday, Sweden also officially spoke out in favor of early accession. Finland had already done so at the end of last week.
But: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is opposed. He declared on Monday evening that Turkey would not approve of the planned NATO membership. Delegations from either country should not bother going to Turkey to convince the Turkish government of their bids for membership. Turkey accuses both countries of not extraditing “terrorists” living there. A total of 33 extradition requests by Turkey have been rejected in the past five years. According to Anadolu, “terror suspects” whose extradition Ankara is demanding are Kurdish extremists or members of the movement of preacher Fethullah Gülen.
Great Britain has meanwhile spoken out in favor of Finland and Sweden joining NATO as soon as possible. The two countries should become members of the western defense alliance “as soon as possible,” Secretary of State Liz Truss said on Monday. France also assured Helsinki and Stockholm outside NATO support in the event of an attack. “The UK strongly supports Finland and Sweden’s applications for NATO membership,” Truss said. The move will “strengthen Europe’s collective security.” During the accession process, London will “offer all its support.”
Read everything about the political developments surrounding the Ukraine war in the news ticker.
Also read: The Ukraine update on May 16 – 19 dead civilians, Putin threatens to react to NATO requests: That happened today
