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On April 15, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that Russian and DPR troops took control over the Illich Iron and Steel Plant in the city of Mariupol.
“The grouping of Russian troops and units of the Donetsk people’s militia have completely liberated Illich Steelworks from Ukrainian nationalists as a result of offensive in Mariupol city.” – the report reads.
According to Russian sources from the spot, the Russian military managed to evacuate about 200 civilians from the territory of the Illich plant. Ukrainian soldiers lured civilians, promising safety, but held them hostage.
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UPDATE at 15:30 on April 15 Moscow time: A commander of the 36th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been captured near the Ilyich factory in Mariupol.
The mass surrender of the remaining AFU servicemen at the plant helped to avoid the complete destruction of the facilities.
In Mariupol, over the past 10 days alone, at least 1,600 Ukrainian servicemen, including 176 officers, have surrendered in large groups.
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According to local reports, on April 4 267 military personnel from the 503rd battalion of the 36th brigade surrendered in the area of the Illich plant.
On April 5, 30 AFU servicemen surrendered in the kindergarten No. 91 and the Azovstal plant.
On April 12, about 160 servicemen of the 36th brigade survived and surrendered after an attempt to break out from the Illich plant towards Zaporozhye.
Later on April 12, 1026 more servicemen of the 36th brigade, including 162 officers, surrendered in the Ilyich plant.
On April 13, 134 more Ukrainian Marines, including 14 officers, surrendered to Russian forces.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so far, 2,543 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 14 servicemen of the National Guard and 116 servicemen of the State Border Service of Ukraine are currently in captivity.
