Hundreds of Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant who surrendered after weeks of resistance now face an uncertain future after they were transferred to Russian-held territory.

According to Russian sources, 265 troops surrendered from the steelworks, marking the end of the most destructive siege of the Russian war. Ukraine’s deputy defense minister has said the troops would be exchanged in a prisoner swap however Russian officials have warned they could be indicted and even executed. The surrender came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the troops had completed their mission in defending the facility.

Image: Image: YuriyMaltsev via Shuttlestock. Mariupol Port, Ukraine. April 29, 2022

Produced By: Tahlia Kraefft

Featured In Story: Dr. Sonia Mycak, Research Fellow in Ukranian Studies, European Study Centre, ANU

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 18 May 2022