Ukraine "Negotiations for Exchange of Mariupol Azovstal Soldiers and Russian Prisoners"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Ukrainian government announced that it has proposed an exchange between the defending forces at the Azovstal steel plant in southern Mariupol, where Russian military offensives are ongoing, and Russian prisoners of war.

According to CNN on the 11th (local time), Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk posted on her Facebook, "We have proposed negotiations to the Russian side for an exchange between wounded soldiers at Azovstal and Russian military prisoners, and negotiations are ongoing, but nothing has been decided yet," adding, "The soldiers at Azovstal cannot surrender and become prisoners of war. This fact must be respected." She continued, "The government is currently reviewing other methods to bring the soldiers at Azovstal back, but none of the other methods are ideal."

The Russian military continues to besiege Azovstal, repeatedly attacking the steel plant with airstrikes, tanks, and armored vehicles, but has yet to capture it. About 1,000 Ukrainian troops, including the Azov Regiment, are holding out in a desperate defense, while most civilians who had been sheltering there are reported to have escaped.

The Azov Regiment recently released a video showing wounded soldiers fighting at Azovstal, appealing for international support. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, said in a phone interview with CNN, "The Russian military continues to bombard, so it is impossible to know the current situation at Azovstal," and added, "There needs to be a ceasefire to allow NGOs and others to enter the steel plant and assess the situation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.