Added 771 People, The Number Of Ukrainian Troops Who Surrendered In Azovstal Now Reaches 1,730 Personnel

Mayor Jenderal Igor Konashenkov. (Source: Russian Defense Industry Press Office / Vadim Savitsky via TASS)

JAKARTA - The number of Ukrainian troops who surrendered from the Azovstal steel factory area, Mariupol, Ukraine which became the last bastion of defense in the eastern region of the country again increased significantly.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said more than 700 insurgents from the Ukrainian Azov nationalist battalion surrendered in the past 24 hours.

"In the last 24 hours, 771 guerrillas from the Azov nationalist battalion hiding in the Azovstal steel mill surrendered. In all, 1,730 guerrillas, including 80 wounded soldiers, have surrendered since May 16," he explained, launching TASS May 19.

All Ukrainian servicemen requiring inpatient treatment receive medical assistance at health institutions in Novoazovsk and Donetsk, the general continued, regarding the fate of those who surrendered.

Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on May 17, Ukrainian nationalists and the besieged forces at the Azovstal steel plant, Mariupol had begun to surrender.

Separately, Ukrainian officials declined to comment publicly on the fate of the fighters who had made their final stand at the Azovstal steel mill, holding out as Mariupol was taken over by Russian forces.

"The state is making maximum efforts to carry out the rescue of our service personnel," military spokesman Oleksandr Motuzaynik told a news conference.

"Any information to the public could jeopardize that process."

It is known that Ukrainian officials have spoken about arranging a prisoner swap, but Moscow says no such deal has been made for the fighters, most of whom are from right-wing units (Azov's Regiment).