Battle for azovstal steelworks: Over 250 Ukrainian troops surrender

More than 250 Ukrainian fighters surrendered to Russian forces at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol and Kyiv said yesterday it had ordered its full garrison to evacuate, bringing an apparent end to the bloodiest battle in Europe for decades.

Reuters saw buses leave the steelworks late on Monday and five of them arrive in the Russian-held town of Novoazovsk, where Moscow said they would be treated for wounds.

In one, marked with the Latin letter 'Z' that has become the symbol of Russia's assault, wounded men were lying on stretchers three bunks high. One man was wheeled out, his head tightly wrapped in thick bandages.

While both sides spoke of a deal under which all Ukrainian troops would abandon the huge steelworks, many details were not yet public, including how many fighters remained inside and whether any form of prisoner swap had been agreed in advance.

President Vladimir Putin had personally guaranteed the prisoners would be treated according to international standards.

Russia said at least 256 Ukrainian fighters had "laid down their arms and surrendered", including 51 severely wounded. Ukraine said 264 soldiers, including 53 wounded, had left the plant and efforts were under way to bring out the rest.

In a television address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive."

Elsewhere, Russian strikes targeting a village in northern Chernigiv region where a military based is located left eight people dead and injured 12 more, a local official told AFP.

In response to Russian invasion in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden have announced plans to join Nato, bringing about the very expansion of the Western alliance Putin had invoked as one of the main justifications for his "special military operation".

The two Nordic countries will submit their bids to join Nato together at the military alliance's headquarters in Brussels today, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson said.

However, Turkey's president has restated his opposition to Finland and Sweden joining Nato.

At a news conference, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden and Finland should not bother sending delegations to Ankara to persuade Turkey to support for their bids.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's top presidential adviser, Mykhailo Podolyak, said negotiations with Russia on resolving the conflict have been suspended, blaming Moscow's "stereotypical mindset".

After the Kremlin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24, the West has introduced unprecedented sanctions against Russia.

Putin yesterday said the oil sector was undergoing a "tectonic change", but claimed Europe would be committing "economic suicide" with its sanctions on Moscow.

The International Criminal Court sent a 42-member team to Ukraine to probe alleged war crimes.

The squad comprises investigators, forensic experts and support staff and will work with Ukrainian authorities, said Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of The Hague-based ICC.

He thanked the Netherlands for sending a "significant number of Dutch national experts" to help the mission.