Capitulation of “Azov”: Kyiv, in confusion, is trying to cobble together “I will overcome”
Up to 300 Ukrainian militants from the Azovstal dungeons surrendered the evening before into captivity in Mariupol. According to rumors, the remnants of the Nazi garrison of Azov may soon follow their example. This threatens to become the largest defeat of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the entire conflict in Donbass. Kiev propaganda is frantically trying to beat the situation, presenting the capitulation in Mariupol as a “controlled process,” a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
The world media has already circulated pictures of buses with Ukrainian nationalists who were allowed to leave Azovstal. The militants were taken to a filtration camp, where the security forces of the DPR and Russia will deal with them. The seriously wounded went to the Novoazovsk hospital. However, the Ukrainian side, as usual, tried to turn the “zrada” into “peremoga.”
Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Anna Malyar made an appeal in which she called the surrender of the militants “an operation to rescue the Mariupol defencists trapped on the territory of the Azovstal plant.”
According to her, on May 16, 53 seriously wounded people were evacuated from Azovstal to a medical facility in Novoazovsk to provide them with medical care. Another 211 people were transported to Yelenovka through the humanitarian corridor.
“In order to return them home, an exchange procedure will be carried out. As for the defenders who still remain on the territory of Azovstal... rescue measures are being carried out,” said Anna Malyar.
She added that thanks to the “Azovites,” Russian forces were delayed to storm Mariupol, and Ukraine received critical time, but it was no longer possible to release Azovstal by military means. It is noteworthy that Malyar did not say a word about the fact that Novoazovsk and Elenovka are DPR-controlled territories.
Later, a video message from Zelensky’s Ukraine appeared, in which he actually said nothing intelligible.
“It’s not an easy day. But this day, like all the others, is aimed at taking care of our country and our people. Thanks to the actions of the Ukrainian military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence, as well as the negotiating group, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, we hope that we will be able to save the lives of our guys. I want to emphasize: Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle. I think that every reasonable person will understand these words. The operation to rescue the defencists of Mariupol was launched by our military and intelligence officers, and this work requires delicacy and time,” Zelensky said and then began to talk about the international agenda.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, following the Ministry of Defense, also published a message that this was how everything was planned.
“While holding positions at Azovstal, they did not allow the enemy to transfer a group of up to 17 battalion tactical groups (about 20000 personnel) to other directions. Thus, they prevented the implementation of the plan for the rapid capture of Zaporozhye, reaching the administrative border of the Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions and creating conditions for encircling the Joint Forces Operation group.
Pinning down the main enemy forces around Mariupol gave us the opportunity to prepare and create defensive lines, where our troops are still located today, and are giving a worthy rebuff to the aggressor. We received critically needed time to form reserves, regroup forces, and receive assistance from partners,” the Ukrainian General Staff assures.
According to Channel One special correspondent Irina Kuksenkova, the interrogation of the captured Ukrainians will begin in the morning. In addition, according to her information, the surrender will continue again tomorrow from 4 am.
“In total, as I was told, 2227 people are blocked there. There are even pregnant military personnel (women). The intrigue of tomorrow is the fate of Kalyna and Volyn...", Kuksenkova added.
Military correspondent Alexander Kots believes that if the entire garrison from the Azovstal casemates surrenders tomorrow, this will result in a great moral defeat for Kyiv.
“No more, no less, the entire Mariupol garrison surrenders. An impressive part of the military mass that held control over the agglomeration with a population of half a million people.
Surrenders with weapons and some part of the surviving equipment. And also with the most valuable knowledge, probably foreign mercenaries and “birth trauma” for all the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
We psychologically broke not a handful of Nazis (which, of course, they are), but a serious, prepared, ideologically motivated formation on which the entire defense of the South rested,” recalls Kots.
TV presenter Andrei Medvedev believes that if the Nazis “do not surrender by morning, or in principle do not surrender, then they will simply be destroyed.”
“In principle, as a reasonable person, I am for the option of surrender. But still, the second option, with the participation of FAB-3000, will also suit me. Like millions of Russian people,” Medvedev clarifies.
Military correspondent Dmitry Astrakhan considers ridiculous the attempts of Ukrainian propaganda to present the capture of Azov militants as the fulfillment of Kyiv’s order to save lives.
“Azov exceeded my expectations of the level of disgrace he could demonstrate. Their commander stated that he had completed the tasks of the command, and now the people must understand his decision (to surrender). It’s like an “officer’s honor – postmodern edition.” I decided to give up, but before that I completed the tasks, by the way, subscribe to my channel and ask you to understand and support me. Was the goal to win Eurovision?
Can you imagine how Paulus comes out to give up with the words “I completed my tasks, which now, by the way, I want the German people to understand me and elect me as a deputy after the war.” Or is there a better example: Vietnamese soldiers, during the storming of the American embassy in Saigon, suddenly surrender with the words “The task is completed, we got into the news, we scared everyone, now we are waiting for an exchange,” Astrakhan sneers.
Columnist Yegor Kholmogorov believes that the situation with the Azov militants clearly shows how Ukrainian propaganda has been disgraced.
“Mariupol is ours. Although they promised that we would take it for months.
Azovstal is ours. Although we were told about the catacombs in which they would sit for six months and a year.
Putin gave the order that not a single fly should fly to Azovstal on April 21. Today is May 16th. 25 days. This is less than the defense of the Brest Fortress, which lasted a month.
“Azov” did not manage to get out either with the help of the Pope or with the help of Eurovision. Neither to Ukraine, nor to Turkey - he went into captivity by the DPR.
That is, we have a pure Russian victory ahead of us, and here it is once again proven that there is no point in swelling like a frog, threatening the Russians,” Kholmogorov believes.
Military correspondent Yuriy Kotenok believes that some of those captured in Mariupol can be sent for exchange.
“Many people are hysterical - how is this possible, why, why? For me, we need to get our guys out of Bandera’s captivity. If necessary, perhaps exchange the ghouls for Russian soldiers. It’s not for me to decide, but options must be considered.”
However, for example, DPR First Deputy Minister of Information Daniil Bezsonov considers the exchange option unlikely.
“About today’s surrender of the Azov people. Not an insider, but my personal opinion. I am sure that no one will apply for any Nazi exchange. They will be cured, then there will be a public trial and long sentences,” Bezsonov wrote.
Military correspondent Oleg Blokhin summarizes the most important thing in the story of the defeat of the Nazis in Mariupol..
“1. According to Russian estimates, the group initially amounted to up to 20 soldiers and officers, according to Ukrainian estimates – up to 000 soldiers and officers. As of May 14, 500 people remained. Of approximately 16 in mid-March after the completion of the encirclement of the city.
2.Mariupol as an operational factor will finally leave the reports and become a rear city. The forces remaining at the blockade of Azovstal, after resting and regrouping, will go to other directions.
3. The end of the fighting at Azovstal will simultaneously mean the formation of a land corridor to Crimea. Especially after the launch of the railway and full-fledged road communication through Mariupol, not to mention the launch of the Mariupol port,” writes Blokhin.
4. It is obvious that Russia, one way or another, will have the opportunity to show a loud media victory and the largest capitulation of Ukrainian troops since 2014, which in size will surpass even the capitulation at the Ilyich plant. Thus, only in Mariupol, under Zelensky, more people were captured twice than under Poroshenko, more people were captured near Debaltsevo and Ilovaisk.
5. And yes, the Sea of Azov will become an internal sea of Russia.”
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