High Azovstal commanders transferred to Russia for investigation – TASS

Russian service members work on demining the territory of Azovstal metal plant throughout Ukraine-Russia battle within the southern port metropolis of Mariupol, Ukraine Could 22, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko/File Picture

June 19 (Reuters) – Two high commanders of fighters who defended the Azovstal metal plant in Ukraine’s southeastern port of Mariupol have been transferred to Russia for investigation, Russia’s state information company TASS reported.

Uncertainty has surrounded the destiny of a whole bunch of fighters captured by Russian forces in Could after a months-long siege of Mariupol. Moscow stated on the time they have been moved to breakaway Russian-backed entities in jap Ukraine. learn extra

Citing an unnamed Russian regulation enforcement supply, TASS stated late on Saturday that Svyatoslav Palamar, a deputy commander of the Azov battalion, and Serhiy Volynsky, the commander of the thirty sixth Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, have been moved to Russia.

Particular forces officers transferred them from Donetsk, an jap Ukrainian province that Moscow recognises as a pro-Russian republic, “to conduct investigative actions with them,” TASS cited the supply as saying.

“Different officers of assorted Ukrainian models have been additionally transported to Russia.”

Reuters couldn’t instantly confirm the report and there was no rapid response from Kyiv. Earlier this month, Ukraine stated its intelligence providers have been in communication with the captured Azovstal steelworks fighters. learn extra

The Azov Battalion, an all-volunteer infantry navy unit which shaped in 2014 as an excessive right-wing volunteer militia to battle Russian-backed separatists, and the thirty sixth Marine Brigade unit, have been key in defending the steelworks. learn extra

Kyiv is searching for the handover of all of the fighters in a prisoner swap with Moscow, however some Russian lawmakers need a few of the fighters placed on trial. learn extra

Russian businesses reported in early June that greater than 1,000 Azovstal fighters have been transferred to Russia to undisclosed places for investigation.

The self-styled Donetsk and Luhansk folks’s republics are within the industrial Donbas area in jap Ukraine, which Russia is combating to take away from Kyiv’s management.

Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Enhancing by William Mallard

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