Ukrainian Troops In Sievierodonetsk Reluctant To Lay Down Weapons, Russia Uses Information From Surrendered Aidar Battalion Members

Illustration of the surrender of Ukrainian troops to the Russian army. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - Militants from the Aidar nationalist battalion that surrendered to the LPR People's Militia (People's Republic of Luganks), began testifying against their fellow militants who blocked the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk, a source close to the People's Militia told TASS.

"Currently, the information obtained from members of Aidar, who surrendered in Metyolkino, is being used for negotiations with the militants," the source said, as quoted June 20.

Negotiations with the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign insurgents blocking the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk ended in vain on Sunday, a source said.

"Negotiations with Ukrainian forces at the Azot factory have so far been unsuccessful. They did not start to come out and surrender, but talks are continuing," the source said.

The foreign mercenaries occupying the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk along with the nationalist Aidar battalion, blocked negotiations for voluntary surrender to the LPR People's Militia, a source said.

"They (foreign mercenaries) are blocking the negotiation process. So we are waiting," said the source.

On June 18, a source in the LPR People's Militia told TASS, a number of Aidar militants, including commanders, surrendered to LPR forces in Metyolkino, near Severodonetsk. Later, this was confirmed by the LPR envoy to the Russian Federation Rodion Miroshnik.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on his Telegram channel, units of the elite Chechen Akhmat forces and the LPR People's Militia completed the clearing of the Metyolkino settlement.