Ukraine completes mission to defend Azovstal steelworks

Ukraine’s military command said in the early hours of Tuesday that the mission to defend the besieged Azovstal steelworks of “heroes of our time” in the strategic southern port of Mariupol is over and promised to rescue soldiers still trapped inside.

The “Mariupol” garrison has fulfilled its combat mission, “the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said in a statement. “The Supreme Military Command ordered the commanders of the units stationed in Azovstal to save the lives of the personnel … Mariupol’s defenders are the heroes of our time. ”

A total of 53 wounded soldiers were evacuated to a hospital in Novoazovsk east of Mariupol on Monday, and a further 211 were taken to another point, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister said.

Five buses and an armored personnel carrier with the soldiers arrived in Novoazovsk late Monday, and some of the evacuees were carried on stretchers to a hospital, a Reuters witness said. Novoazovsk is now under the control of Russia-backed separatists, who have held parts of eastern Ukraine since 2014.

Since Russia launched its invasion in February, Mariupol’s destruction has become a symbol both of Ukraine’s ability to resist Russia’s invasion and of Russia’s willingness to destroy lasting Ukrainian cities.

Azovstal’s last defenders had endured for weeks in bunkers and tunnels built deep underground to withstand nuclear war. Civilians were evacuated from inside the factory, one of the largest metallurgical plants in Europe, earlier this month.

“Efforts to rescue defenders who remain in Azovstal territory continue,” the military said.

There has been no immediate reaction from the Moscow authorities to the development in Azovstal.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his nightly video speech on Monday called for a “difficult” day.

“Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle. I think any sensible person will understand these words,” Zelenskiy said.

“The work continues to bring the boys home, and this work requires delicacy. And time.”