About 1,000 Mariupol defenders have been in Russian captivity for 14 months
About 1,000 defenders of Mariupol have been in Russian captivity for 14 months and they still need to be returned to Ukraine.
"To date, the defenders of Mariupol, including about 700 Azov members and 300 fighters from other units of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade of the National Guard ‘Azov’, have been in Russian captivity for 14 months. We will return everyone," the Azov Brigade posted on Telegram on August 12, Ukrinform reports.
As reported, the Ukrainian military defended Mariupol city for more than 80 days. On May 16, the evacuation of defenders from the Azovstal steel works blocked by the Russian invaders began and lasted several days.
On September 21, more than 200 Ukrainian defenders, as well as ten foreigners who fought on the side of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, returned from Russian captivity as a result of the exchange.