Russia: Nearly 1,000 Ukraine Soldiers Surrender at Mariupol Factory
2022-05-19
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1Russia says that nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops who defended a large steel factory in Mariupol have surrendered.
2The announcement Wednesday comes as the battle for the strategic port city appeared to be over.
3Ukraine refuses to call the action a surrender.
4The factory had been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance throughout the war.
5It is unclear what will happen to the remaining soldiers defending the Azovstal factory.
6Ukraine hopes for a prisoner exchange, but Russia has said some could be investigated for war crimes.
7Both sides are trying to win propaganda victories from what has been one of the most important and deadly battles of the war.
8"There can be just one interpretation: The troops holed up at Azovstal are laying down their weapons and surrendering," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.
9Russian Defense Ministry video has shown Ukrainian troops carrying out their wounded and being checked for weapons.
10For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the war has not gone well.
11After failing to capture the capital, Kyiv, in the early days of the war, Putin's troops pulled back.
12Possible war crimes have been exposed, creating widespread anger and increasing Western opposition to the war.
13Ukraine has already begun trying soldiers for war crimes.
14In the first trial, a Russian soldier pleaded guilty to killing a Ukrainian citizen.
15He faces up to life in prison.
16Putin is now hoping to capture the eastern industrial part of Ukraine, called the Donbas.
17But Russian troops have not made progress.
18Also, Sweden and Finland are deciding to join the NATO military alliance.
19Finland and Sweden could become members within months.
20But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to block their acceptance.
21Other members of the 30-country alliance want to move quickly.
22Only the factory remained for Russia to declare its capture of Mariupol.
23Mariupol would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014.
24It also would permit the Russian military to place its full attention on battles in the east and south of Ukraine.
25For Ukraine, the plant's surrender could leave President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government open to claims that the troops at the factory were abandoned.
26Zelenskyy had called the troops heroes.
27"There have been voices of discontent and accusations of betraying Ukrainian soldiers," said Volodymyr Fesenko.
28He is the head of Penta, a research group in Kyiv.
29He also warned that a prisoner exchange may not happen.
30Russia says it will try to "identify the nationalists" among the Ukrainian soldiers and determine whether they were involved in crimes against civilians.
31Russia's top government lawyer asked the country's Supreme Court to name Ukraine's Azov Regiment as a terrorist organization.
32They were among the troops that defended the Azovstal factory.
33Some Azovstal fighters were taken to a former prison colony in territory controlled by Russian-supported separatists.
34Their legal situation is not clear.
35Russia targeted Mariupol at the beginning of the war.
36The city was largely destroyed. Ukraine says over 20,000 civilians have been killed there.
37During the attacks, Russian forces launched deadly airstrikes on a hospital.
38Another strike hit a theater where civilians had taken shelter.
39I'm Dan Novak.
1Russia says that nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops who defended a large steel factory in Mariupol have surrendered. 2The announcement Wednesday comes as the battle for the strategic port city appeared to be over. 3Ukraine refuses to call the action a surrender. The factory had been a symbol of Ukrainian resistance throughout the war. 4It is unclear what will happen to the remaining soldiers defending the Azovstal factory. Ukraine hopes for a prisoner exchange, but Russia has said some could be investigated for war crimes. 5Both sides are trying to win propaganda victories from what has been one of the most important and deadly battles of the war. 6"There can be just one interpretation: The troops holed up at Azovstal are laying down their weapons and surrendering," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday. 7Russian Defense Ministry video has shown Ukrainian troops carrying out their wounded and being checked for weapons. 8For Russian President Vladimir Putin, the war has not gone well. After failing to capture the capital, Kyiv, in the early days of the war, Putin's troops pulled back. Possible war crimes have been exposed, creating widespread anger and increasing Western opposition to the war. 9Ukraine has already begun trying soldiers for war crimes. In the first trial, a Russian soldier pleaded guilty to killing a Ukrainian citizen. He faces up to life in prison. 10Putin is now hoping to capture the eastern industrial part of Ukraine, called the Donbas. But Russian troops have not made progress. 11Also, Sweden and Finland are deciding to join the NATO military alliance. Finland and Sweden could become members within months. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to block their acceptance. Other members of the 30-country alliance want to move quickly. 12Only the factory remained for Russia to declare its capture of Mariupol. Mariupol would give Russia a land bridge to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. It also would permit the Russian military to place its full attention on battles in the east and south of Ukraine. 13For Ukraine, the plant's surrender could leave President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government open to claims that the troops at the factory were abandoned. Zelenskyy had called the troops heroes. 14"There have been voices of discontent and accusations of betraying Ukrainian soldiers," said Volodymyr Fesenko. He is the head of Penta, a research group in Kyiv. 15He also warned that a prisoner exchange may not happen. 16Russia says it will try to "identify the nationalists" among the Ukrainian soldiers and determine whether they were involved in crimes against civilians. Russia's top government lawyer asked the country's Supreme Court to name Ukraine's Azov Regiment as a terrorist organization. They were among the troops that defended the Azovstal factory. 17Some Azovstal fighters were taken to a former prison colony in territory controlled by Russian-supported separatists. Their legal situation is not clear. 18Russia targeted Mariupol at the beginning of the war. The city was largely destroyed. Ukraine says over 20,000 civilians have been killed there. During the attacks, Russian forces launched deadly airstrikes on a hospital. Another strike hit a theater where civilians had taken shelter. 19I'm Dan Novak. 20Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 21_________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23strategic - adj. related to a general plan to reach a long-term political or military goal 24interpretation - n. a way of explaining a situation or happening 25abandon - v. to stop supporting or helping someone