More than a thousand Ukrainian marines have surrendered in Mariupol, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Kadyrov also called on Ukrainian forces that have barricaded themselves at the Azovstal metallurgical plant to surrender.
Representatives of the Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on the statement of the Chechen leader.
In a morning briefing, the Ukrainian army’s general staff said today that Russian forces were continuing attacks on the metallurgical plant and the port of Mariupol.
“Azovstal currently has about 200 wounded who cannot be treated. For them and others, it would be best to end this senseless resistance and go to their families,” Kadyrov said.
More than a thousand Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered in Mariupol, including 162 officers and 47 female servicemen, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said today.
“In the city of Mariupol, in the area of the metallurgical plant” Ilyich “, as a result of successful offensive actions of the Russian armed forces and militia units of the Donetsk People’s Republic, 1026 Ukrainian servicemen from the 36th Marine Brigade were taken prisoner,” said Konashenkov.
Zelensky wants an exchange of pro-Russian politicians for the captured Ukrainians
In Ukraine, pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, Vladimir Putin’s closest and most influential ally in Ukraine, has been arrested.
Medvedchuk, leader of the Opposition Platform For Life party, has been under house arrest since last year after authorities accused him of treason. However, he fled a few days after the Russian invasion began on February 24.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has published a photo of Medvedchuk handcuffed and wearing a camouflage uniform with the Ukrainian flag sewn on as an applique.
Zelensky offered Moscow to exchange the Ukrainian MP and businessman Viktor Medvedchuk, detained by the authorities in Kyiv, with the Ukrainians captured in Russia, AFP reported.
“I propose to the Russian Federation to exchange this man for our sons and daughters, who are currently in captivity in Russia,” Zelensky said in a video message to the Telegram.
