Natalia Zinets

KYIV/NOVOAZOVSK (Ukraine) – The Ukrainian military stated Tuesday that it is working to evacuate all troops from the last stronghold at Mariupol’s besieged port. It also said they were transferring control to Russia of the city after months of bombardment.

This evacuation was most likely the culmination of the bloodiest and longest battle in the Ukraine war. It also marked a decisive defeat for Ukraine. After a Russian invasion that killed thousands, Mariupol now lies in ruin.

With Mariupol remaining in Russian control, thousands of Ukrainian civilians and soldiers hid under the Azovstal Steelworks. In recent weeks, civilians inside the city were evacuated and over 260 soldiers, including some wounded, fled to Russian-controlled areas.

In a statement, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces announced that “Mariupol’ has completed its combat mission.”

It stated that the supreme military command had ordered commanders at Azovstal’s units to rescue the lives of personnel. “Defenders of Mariupol are our heroes,” it said.

According to Ukraine’s deputy defense minister, 53 soldiers from Azovstal Steelworks sustained injuries and were transported to Novoazovsk (Russian-controlled), 32 km (20 miles) away.

Anna Malyar (Deputy Defence Minister) stated that another 212 people were transferred to Olenivka. This is an area that has been controlled by Russian-backed separatists. She added that all evacuees would be eligible for a possible prisoner swap with Russia.

The number of troops still in Azovstal was unknown. According to the Ukrainian military, efforts are being made to evacuate all those who remain.

Reuters reported that five buses with troops from Azovstal arrived in Novoazovsk on Monday night. Some troops that had to be evacuated were injured and were carried on stretchers from the bus. It was believed that 600 soldiers were inside the steel plant.

In an early morning speech, President Volodymyr Zilenskiy of Ukraine stated that he hoped to be able “to save our men’s lives.” They have many severely injured ones. These people are receiving treatment. Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive.”

In Novoazovsk, they arrived on a bus with Z markings, an indication of Russia’s invasion. On three levels, you could see men piled on stretchers. The men stared at the windows and did not react. A man was wheeled away, with his head wrapped in heavy bandages.

Mariupol was demolished by Russia in February. This is both a sign of Ukraine’s resistance as well as Russia’s desire to devastate Ukrainian cities who are still standing.

Hours after Russia announced that it would evacuate injured soldiers from Ukraine to a Novoazovsk medical center, the first evacuations were made late Monday night.

KHARKIV FIGHTING, LVIV EXPLOSIONS

Moscow refers to the nearly three-month-old invading force as a “special military operations” designed to exterminate fascists from Ukraine. Kyiv and Western allies claim that this is an absurd pretext for launching an unprovoked conflict.

Russia’s invasion forces are facing apparent difficulties, and troops were forced from the northern part of Kyiv by the Ukrainian counterattack in March. In recent days, a Ukrainian counterattack drove Russian forces from the region near Kharkiv. This is the largest easterly city.

Russian attacks continue to be carried out in areas around Kyiv, Lviv and other cities near the Polish border. Witness to the incident told Reuters that a series of explosions occurred in Lviv on Tuesday morning. There are no immediate reports on casualties or damages.

The Ukrainian defense ministry troops advanced to the Russian border on Monday. It is located about 40 kilometers north of Kharkiv.

Ukraine could use the successes in Kharkiv to attack Russia’s supply lines. This would allow Ukraine to continue south in Donbas, where Moscow launched mass attacks for over a month, but only modest gains.

PUTIN CLIMBDOWN OVER NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an appearance on Monday, to end his threats to Sweden and Finland by threatening to retaliate for his announcement of plans to join NATO-led NATO military alliance.

Russia does not have any problems whatsoever with Sweden and Finland as far expansion is concerned. Putin explained that Russia does not face any immediate threats from the inclusion of these new countries.

These comments seemed to represent a significant shift in rhetoric after many years of referring to NATO’s enlargement as an immediate threat to Russia’s security and even citing it to justify the invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s deputy foreign Minister, Sergei Ryabkov said that Finland and Sweden made a huge mistake before Putin spoke.

Putin claimed that NATO’s enlargement was used by the United States as an “aggressive way” to aggrave a already complex global security situation. Russia could respond to the US if they move weapons or troops ahead.

Our response would be to the expansion of military infrastructure in this area. Putin stated that we would see the threats created by this (response).

Finland and Sweden both non-aligned in the Cold War but now say that they want NATO’s protection. Under NATO, an attack on one member is an assault on everyone.

Magdalena Andersson announced that the Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson would formally abstain from militarily-aligned status. This was a keystone of Swedish nationalism for more than 200 year.