How the Now Evacuated Mariupol Defenders Contributed To Russia's Kharkiv Defeat

The surrounded and outnumbered defenders in Mariupol's Azovstol steel plant held on long enough to contribute to the Russian defeats at Kharkiv and parts of the Donbas. 

This is because their tenacious defense gave the Ukrainian army time to regroup and receive weapons from NATO by diverting crucial Russian troops and munitions. China and Turkey are reported to have guaranteed the safety of the Mariupol troops now being transported to Russia, who will be exchanged for a larger number of captured Russians, thus allowing Putin a face-saving excuse to do the deal. JL   

Charles Jay reports in Daily Kos, image AFP/Getty:

The Ukrainian General Staff announced Monday that more than 260 soldiers, many of them wounded, had been evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the southern port city of Mariupol. "Thanks to the defenders of Mariupol, we have gained critical time to build reserves, regroup forces and receive assistance. For 82 days they drew fire from overwhelming forces of the enemy and allowed the Ukrainian army to regroup, train more personnel and receive a large number of weapons from partner countries."

The Ukrainian General Staff announced Monday that more than 260 soldiers, many of them wounded, had been evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the southern port city of Mariupol.

The announcement was made in a video statement by Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar. Her remarks and those of others appeared to indicate that the siege of Azovstal was ending.

Fifty-three severely wounded soldiers were taken Monday from Azovstal to a medical facility in Novoazovsk, a southeastern  border town in Donetsk province  held by Russian-backed separatists, she said. 

Malyar said another 211 Azovstal defenders had been evacuated to the town of Olenivka. Olenivka is held by Russian forces, but she said the soldiers were to be returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory through an exchange of prisoners.

“‘Mariupol’ Garrison has completed their combat mission. The Supreme Military Command has ordered the commanders of the units stationed at Azovstal to save the lives of military personnel,” she said.

“Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday. He thanked the Ukrainian military and negotiators, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations for their help in arranging the evacuation.

“The work continues to bring the boys home, and this work needs delicacy. And time," he added.

Malyar said that measures aimed at rescuing the remaining defenders at the sprawling steel plant continue to go on.

"Thanks to the defenders of Mariupol, we have gained critical time to build reserves, regroup forces and receive assistance from partners. All defenders of Mariupol have completed the tasks given by the command in full,” she added.

“Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to relieve the siege of Azovstal by military means. The most important common task of  Ukraine and the whole world is to save the lives of the defenders of Mariupol," she stressed.

Her statement confirms Russian news media reports earlier Monday by the Russian Ministry of Defense  which said an agreement had been reached regarding the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal plant and a ceasefire had been established.

Denys Prokopenko, the commander of Azov special regiment, said on Telegram that the defenders have completed their task and he wants to save the lives of those under his command.

"The Mariupol defenders have completed their task despite all the difficulties,” Prokopenko said. “For 82 days they drew fire from overwhelming forces of the enemy and allowed the Ukrainian army to regroup, train more personnel and receive a large number of weapons from partner countries.

“No weapon will work without professionally trained soldiers, making them the most valuable element of the army. In order to save lives, the entire Mariupol garrison is carrying out the approved decision of the Supreme Military Command and hopes for the support of the Ukrainian people".

Novoazovsk is only 28 miles east of Mariupol. So it might offer the closest medical facility to the Azovstal plant. If that’s the case, it might raise hopes that once treated and stabilized the wounded soldiers could be taken to Ukrainian-held territory.

The evacuation is likely to mark the end of the longest and bloodiest battle of the Ukraine war. 

Mariupol has been besieged by Russian forces since March 1. Nearly all the city has been destroyed and thousands of residents have been buried in mass graves.

Since the end of April, the last Ukrainian stronghold in the city was the sprawling Azovstal steel plant built in the Soviet era with a vast network of underground tunnels and bunkers.

Earlier this month, civilians sheltering in the plant were evacuated. But an estimated 600 wounded soldiers suffering from lack of food, water and medicine remained in the plant.

On Saturday, the plight of the Azovstal defenders was brought to worldwide attention by the winning Ukrainian band, Kalush Orchestra, at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, an event viewed by tens of millions of people. 

After the performing their song about motherhood, “Stefania,” Kalush’s frontman Oleh Psiuk put his hand on his heart and shouted: “I ask for all of you, please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now.”

But the next day, Russian forces dropped incendiary or phosphorus bombs on the steel plant, Ukrainian officials said.  Even worse Russians reportedly signed the bombs with their response to the Kalush band’s plea.