The Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the Border Guard Service launched a joint operation to rescue the defenders of Mariupol blocked on the territory of the Azovstal plant, announced the Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar.
She noted that 53 seriously injured people were evacuated to a medical institution in Novoazovsk for medical care. Another 211 people were taken to Olenivka through a humanitarian corridor. (Novoazovsk and Olenivka are occupied territories - translator's note)
An exchange procedure will be carried out to return them home.
"As for the defenders who remain on the territory of Azovstal, joint efforts are being made by the agencies mentioned above to save them," Malyar said.
She stressed that thanks to the defenders of Mariupol, Ukraine had gained critical time to build reserves, regroup forces and receive assistance from partners.
The defenders of Mariupol executed all the tasks set by the command in full.
Unfortunately, we do not have the opportunity to unblock Azovstal by military means.
"The most important common task of all Ukraine and the whole world is to save the lives of the defenders of Mariupol," Malyar concluded.
According to earlier reports, about a dozen buses left Azovstal, apparently transporting Ukrainian soldiers.
The defenders of Mariupol carried out the order to draw Russian forces back and allow the Ukrainian army to regroup, train more personnel and receive a significant number of weapons from partner countries.