The humanitarian operation continues to rescue the Ukrainian military from Azovstal. The government is working on its further stages.
This was announced on the morning of May 17 by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk.
"To save lives, 52 of our severely wounded servicemen were evacuated yesterday. After their condition stabilizes, we will exchange them for russian prisoners of war," Vereshchuk said.
In addition to the seriously wounded, 211 of our soldiers were taken out of the plant.
The Ministry of Defense reported that MID, SSU, National Guard, SBGS began conjoint operation of rescue of the defenders of Mariupol blocked on the territory of the Azovstal plant. It was reported that 53 seriously injured people were evacuated to a medical facility in occupied Novoazovsk for medical care, and another 211 people were taken to occupied Olenivka through a humanitarian corridor. An exchange procedure will be carried out to return them home.
President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive.