Ukraine Declares "End of Mariupol Operation"... Last Azovstal Resistance Forces Surrender

Last Resistance Forces Surrender... "Heroes Must Stay Alive"
Complete Fall of Mariupol... Focus Expected on Donbas Offensive

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Ukrainian defenders who resisted until the end at the Azovstal steel plant in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol have surrendered to Russian forces. The Ukrainian government also officially declared that the operation in Mariupol has ended and that Mariupol has been completely captured. With the full fall of Mariupol, it is expected that Russian forces will focus more on the Donbas offensive.

According to CNN on the 17th (local time), the Ukrainian Joint Operations Headquarters issued a statement early that morning saying, "The operation in Mariupol has been completely concluded," and "The Supreme Military Command ordered the commanders of the Azovstal defense units to preserve their lives." It is reported that 264 Ukrainian soldiers who resisted until the end at Azovstal surrendered to Russian forces and were transferred to Russian-controlled areas.

Thus, the final resistance of the Ukrainian defenders ended 27 days after Russian forces declared the occupation of Mariupol. Despite shortages of ammunition, food, and drinking water, they continued to block the advance of Russian forces at the Azovstal steel complex. The Ukrainian Joint Operations Headquarters emphasized, "The Mariupol defenders are heroes of our time," adding, "They will be forever recorded in history and will return to their homeland through prisoner exchange procedures."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also stated, "This was a choice to save lives, and saving Ukrainian heroes is our principle," and praised the defenders by saying, "Their sacrifice allowed us to build a defensive line to repel the enemy, and our military was able to reorganize and gain time to receive support from the West."

With the complete control of the strategic stronghold Mariupol, Russian forces have succeeded in connecting the Russian mainland with Donbas and the Krym Peninsula (Crimea) by land. Having taken control of most of the eastern and southern Black Sea coastal areas of Ukraine, Russian forces are expected to launch offensives mainly in the northern Donbas region.

As Russian forces concentrate troops in the Donbas area, it is reported that many Russian troops have retreated from the northern Kharkiv area. The U.S. think tank, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), stated in a report that day, "Russian forces have largely withdrawn from the northeastern front, including Kharkiv, leaving some troops behind to continue artillery fire and hold positions," and analyzed, "In the future, on the northeastern front, Russian forces will focus on defending against counterattacks by Ukrainian forces."