Radio Svoboda reports that this was announced by a senior official of the US Department of Defense at the closed briefing for journalists on 28 April 2022.
"We can say that russian troops are leaving the Mariupol area and moving northwest in the direction of the Zaporizhzhia region. However, this does not mean russians control Mariupol; they continue to shell and bomb the city. They would not do so if they controlled it." - a Pentagon official said.
He did not specify the number of russian militaries but said it was "significant."
Also, according to the official of the US Department of Defense, russia has already launched about 1,900 missiles on the territory of Ukraine. Most of them targeted Mariupol and the territory of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas in general.
The Pentagon also said that, in general, in the Donbas, the russian militaries are moving slowly and unevenly.
"The russians have not yet solved the problems with logistics and supplies," - the official said.
According to the latest data of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the direction of Donetsk - Zaporizhzhia, the enemy launched an offensive in the area of the municipalities of Neskuchne and Vremivka but had no success. The russians continue to strengthen their military formations.
At the same time, russia continues to launch airstrikes on Mariupol. The primary efforts are focused on blocking our units in the "Azovstal" plant area to prevent their breakthrough.