Azovstal fighters REFUSE to fully surrender & give Russia control of Mariupol

They were Mariupol’s last defenders, a heroic symbol of Ukrainian resistance. Now they’re prisoners of war, does their fate lie in Putins hands? Exclusive report by Valerie Browne Russia claims the Ukrainian forces defending Mariupol's last stronghold the Azovstal steel works have surrendered but this still doesn't mean Russia can claim victory in strategically important port city . Following a long siege that lasted more than 80 days, Ukraine negotiated a deal with Russia and ordered the Azovstal fighters to surrender on May 16th. But it's reported that there is over a thousand troops still hiding in the plant. Only 264 Ukrainian fighters surrendered according to Ukraine’s defence ministry. The majority of troops - still inside the plant- refused to surrender. Out of those that gave themselves up, 52 were severely wounded and taken to a nearby hospital. Reuters reports the remanning healthy troops were bussed to a former penal colony in a Russian controlled town. So what is the fate of the Ukrainians who surrendered? or that of the hundreds, possibly over one thousand fighters, believed still to be inside the steelworks plant? Ukraine’s deputy prime minister, says they would be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war But whether or not we can trust the Russian side to stick to this plan is unclear in light of recent commentary. Russian investigators say they’re going to interrogate them about their potential involvement in crimes against humanity. And a Russian negotiator, Leonid Slutsky, involved in peace talks said they don’t deserve to live adding: "Moscow should consider the death penalty", Despite this sinister commentary a defence and foreign policy expert Michael O’Hanlon a Brookings Institution Senior Fellow thinks Russia will do the prisoner exchange with Ukraine as promised. We will have wait and see what becomes of the Ukraine soldiers who valiantly defended Mariupol but are now in Russian captivity and those who remain in the Azovstal stronghold refusing the surrender. Continue reading Hero Ukrainians declare ‘mission accomplished’ as they are finally evacuated from Mariupol steelworks after 82 days https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18601710/mariupol-steelworks-evacuated/ Moment ‘cancer-stricken’ Putin retches and splutters through dazed meeting amid ‘chemotherapy’ rumours https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18609372/putin-health-retch-splutter-chemo/ Russia threatens to use laser cannons to incinerate drones & ‘blind’ Western satellites in chilling warning over Ukraine https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18608923/russia-threatens-laser-cannons-incinerate-drones/ Russian baby-faced killer who shot Ukrainian civilian dead ‘under orders from senior officer’ pleads GUILTY to war crime https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/18608875/russian-killer-shot-ukrainian-civilian-pleads-guilty/ The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: http://www.thesun.co.uk Like The Sun on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesun/ Follow The Sun on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheSun Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139