China News Service, May 18 (Reporter Meng Xiangjun) Recently, the Russian army has reaped the biggest victory since it entered Ukraine for military operations.
In the 82-day tug-of-war against Mariupol, the Ukrainian army surrendered and evacuated the Azov Steel Plant, the last local stronghold, declaring a phased victory.
The "Washington Post", BBC and other Western media commented that this is "a huge victory for Putin" and "a major setback for Kyiv".
Although this siege is coming to an end, some "mysteries" that have attracted much attention are still to be revealed.
Aerial photography of the Azov steel plant in Mariupol, Ukraine.
Image source: Russian Satellite News Agency
[Put down the weapon, raise the white flag]
The Russian side said that since the 16th local time, the surrendered Ukrainian troops have continued to walk out of the steel factory.
Up to now, 959 Ukrainian armed personnel have surrendered, including 80 wounded.
Over the past day and night, 694 armed men surrendered, including 29 wounded.
Earlier, as nine Ukrainian soldiers came out of the steel plant tunnel with white flags, Russian and Ukrainian military representatives started negotiations and finally reached an agreement to evacuate the wounded.
The factory entered a "silent" mode, and a humanitarian corridor was opened for the Ukrainian army to withdraw.
Video released by pro-Russian forces showed more than 30 fighters carrying wounded soldiers out of the steel mill and onto about a dozen buses, which took them away through humanitarian corridors.
All parties confirmed that the Russian army has seized control and the evacuation operation is underway:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Konashenkov, a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, informed that the members of the "Azov Battalion" trapped in the steel plant and the Ukrainian soldiers surrendered, and "the wounded will be transported to the Nova Azov City Hospital in Donetsk for treatment."
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Mariar confirmed: "211 people who surrendered will be sent to the Russian-controlled town of Olenivka through the humanitarian corridor."
The Ukrainian General Staff announced in the early morning of the 17th: "The Ukrainian Supreme Command has ordered the commander of the troops stationed at the Azov Steel Plant to save the lives of the defending soldiers. The Mariupol garrison has completed the combat mission."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pointed out in a video speech: "We want to save the lives of these people, the hero of Ukraine must live, this is our principle."
Ukrainian Presidential adviser Podolyak commented: "Under the Russian attack, the Ukrainian soldiers of the last fortress in Mariupol persisted for 82 days, thus changing the course of the war."
【Humane treatment? War criminal trials? 】
The analysis pointed out that the Ukrainian armed personnel in the steel plant were out of ammunition and food, lacking medical care and medicine, and raised a white flag when they "couldn't survive any longer".
This shows that Putin's tactic of besieging but not attacking has worked.
As for the fate of the Ukrainian surrendering personnel?
The answers vary.
On February 26, local time, in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, Ukrainian soldiers boarded an armored personnel carrier.
The New York Times quoted Ukrainian authorities as saying that Ukrainian soldiers evacuated from the steel plant would be exchanged as prisoners of war.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Maliar also said that Ukrainian personnel will return to the Ukrainian-controlled area through the detained personnel exchange procedure.
But she did not disclose details.
However, the Russian Investigative Committee reportedly said that Russia would question the soldiers to "investigate whether they were involved in crimes against civilians," possibly charging them with war crimes.
Therefore, the fate of the remaining Ukrainian troops in the steel plant is "worrying".
Itar-Tass reported that a spokesman for the Russian State Duma stated that the "Azov Battalion" armed personnel evacuated from the steel plant should not be used to exchange Russian prisoners of war, and the Russian side "must make every effort to ensure" that these people are "war criminals", to be judged.
Data map: After the exchange of fire between the Ukrainian army and the Russian raid team, Ukrainian soldiers collected unexploded artillery shells in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
Russian lawmaker Slutsky, who participated in the peace talks with Kyiv, pointed out that the death penalty should be considered for the "Azov Battalion" personnel.
"They committed and continue to commit horrific crimes against humanity and should not continue to live."
According to foreign media, most of the Ukrainian soldiers evacuated from the city of Mariupol belonged to the "Azov Battalion".
The group is a controversial volunteer organization that was later transformed into the Ukrainian National Guard and has links to far-right forces.
Moscow has always called the Azov Battalion a "neo-Nazism organization", and the Russian Prosecutor General's Office also asked the Russian Supreme Court to declare the Azov Battalion a terrorist organization.
However, on the 17th, Kremlin spokesman Peskov pointed out that the Ukrainian armed personnel who surrendered at the steel plant will be treated "humanely" "according to international standards".
Peskov stressed that Russian President Vladimir Putin personally made such a guarantee.
[Turkey helps, Chechnya reminds]
In this incident, Turkey's figure was particularly "busy".
In a recent interview with Reuters, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman and chief adviser Ibrahim Kalin said the country was ready to send ships to help evacuate people trapped at the Azov steel plant, including wounded militants and fighters. civilian.
Turkish President Erdogan.
Turkey even described a detailed route map: first by land, the group of people will be sent to Berdyansk port on the Sea of Azov, and then by Turkish ships through the Black Sea, they will be sent to Istanbul.
Turkey wanted to "help" and caught the attention of Chechen leader Kadyrov.
"I have great respect for the leadership of this country, but I would like to remind that the Azov Battalion is a fascist Nazi criminal armed group that is involved in many atrocities and killings of civilians in Donbass," Kadyrov said in a statement. "
He pointed out to Erdogan, "Someone wants to paint the members of the Azov battalion as innocent victims of Russian 'aggression'. ... Don't be fooled by criminals who want to evade justice and punishment with your help. deceive."
Turkey's recent performance is very "bright", it is worth taking a closer look.
First, since the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Turkey has selectively taken a neutral path.
It did not follow the example of Europe and the United States in closing airspace to Russia or initiating sanctions, but while criticizing Russia for launching military operations, it also assisted in arming Ukraine.
On March 10, local time, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba held talks in Antalya, Turkey.
Second, Turkey actively acted as a "middleman" in the negotiations, facilitating one of the rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to be held in Istanbul and the Russian-Ukrainian foreign ministers' talks in Antalya.
Although the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have stalled, Turkey has not given up its good offices.
Thirdly, what is striking recently is that, as a member of NATO, Turkey tried to "singlely" block Finland and Sweden from joining NATO, and made several demands on the US and the West.
In the Turkey-Russia-Ukraine "big triangle" relationship and the wider international arena, Turkey is strengthening its influence and right to speak by playing "balance".
Today, it is indeed worth pondering that it has taken the initiative to "help" to transport the "Azov Battalion" armed personnel.
[Avoid talking about "big fish"? New "Secret"]
Turkey's move to evacuate the Ukrainian army at a great cost seems to add a touch of mystery to the outside world's speculation about the "big fish in the steel mill".
Earlier, Uzbekistan President Zelensky said that if the personnel in the steel plant were "annihilated", they would no longer negotiate with Russia, and the Uzbek side also considered exchanging the captured Russian troops with the personnel in the steel plant, which confirmed the value of these people. .
However, when the Ukrainian defenders began to withdraw, Russia and Ukraine kept silent about whether there were so-called "important figures" among them.
Previously, rumors about the "big fish" in the West continued, involving objects including:
Canadian media reports on retired Lieutenant General Cadieu.
Image source: Screenshot of Canada's "Ottawa Citizen" report
Canadian media reports on retired Lieutenant General Cadieu.
Image source: Screenshot of Canada's "Ottawa Citizen" report
· "Head of the Ukrainian Biological Laboratory funded by the U.S. President Biden's Younger Son Foundation", retired Canadian lieutenant general Cadieu
Lieutenant General Roger Clautier, Commander of NATO Army Command
"Western intelligence agents preparing to attack Donbas"
"More than 50 senior NATO commanders"
· "Britain, the United States and other Western countries former soldiers and soldiers"
The men were accused of being "killed" or "trapped" at the steel mill.
However, various claims have not been confirmed or have been debunked.
On April 21, local time, thick smoke rose from the Azov Steel Plant in Mariupol, Ukraine.
Recently, when asked by reporters about the "big fish", Russian Presidential Spokesperson Peskov replied: "I cannot comment on the fit between the reports of these media and the truth. I think this is entirely the responsibility of the Chinese soldiers who dealt with this matter. privilege."
However, something new has come to light.
The press service of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service disclosed on May 17 that under the planning of the US intelligence services, in April, about 60 members of the international terrorist organization "Islamic State" were released from prison and sent to the US military at the junction of Syria, Jordan and Iraq. Trained at the nearby Tanv military base and delivered to Ukraine.
Although there is no official statement to confirm that there are "big fish" in the steel plant, if it is confirmed that terrorists are secretly involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and help Ukraine "fight", it will really make the United States look bad.
(Finish)