Russia says more than 250 Ukrainian fighters surrendered in Azovstal steel plant

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May 17 (Reuters) - Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday that more than 250 Ukrainian fighters holed up in Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant had surrendered.

"Over the past 24 hours, 265 militants have laid down their arms and surrendered, including 51 seriously wounded," the ministry said, following an earlier report from Russian-backed separatists that 256 fighters had surrendered.

Service members of pro-Russian troops stand guard on a road before the expected evacuation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the besieged Azovstal steel mill in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict in Mariupol, Ukraine May 16, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

The defence ministry said that those who needed medical treatment were sent to a hospital in Novoazovsk, a town in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's military said on Tuesday it was working to evacuate all remaining troops from their last stronghold in the besieged port of Mariupol, ceding control of the city to Russia after months of bombardment. read more

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Reporting by Reuters; editing by Guy Faulconbridge

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