At least 260 Ukrainian soldiers, some heavily wounded, evacuated from besieged Mariupol steel plant

Troops holed up in the last Ukrainian stronghold in the besieged port of Mariupol began evacuating on Monday, appearing to cede control of the once-prosperous city to Russia after months of bombardment.

These images show wounded defenders and civilians at the Azovstal Plant in Mariupol, Ukraine on 11 May, 2022. Source: AAP / Azov Regiment/Cover Images/Cover Images

More than 260 Ukrainian soldiers were evacuated from the besieged Azovstal steel plant in the port city of Mariupol, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister Ganna Malyar said on Monday local time.

"53 heavily wounded (soldiers) were evacuated from Azovstal to the medical mortgage near Novoazovsk for medical aid," Malyar said in a statement.

Another 211 were taken out through the humanitarian corridor to Olenivka, she added.

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