Russia claims more than 250 Ukrainian fighters surrendered at Azovstal Steel Plant

Talks were going on at a high level between Ukraine and Russia for the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers and foreign fighters trapped at the Ajovstal steel factory in Maripol, Ukraine. Now Russia's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that more than 250 Ukrainian fighters hiding at the Azovstal Steel Plant in Maripol have surrendered. 

The ministry said so after an earlier report by Russian-backed separatists that said 256 fighters had surrendered. The defense ministry said those who needed medical treatment were sent to a hospital in Novoazovsk, a city in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine's military said on Tuesday it was working to evacuate all remaining troops from its last stronghold in the besieged port of Maripol, handing over control of the city to Russia after months of bombing.

Sumy Region Governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky claimed that Ukrainian border guards had repelled an incursion by a Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group into the northeastern region of Sumy. The governor of the Sumy region, Dmitry Zhyvitsky, wrote on the Telegram messaging app that the Russian group entered Ukrainian territory under cover of mortar shells, grenades and machine gun fire, but withdrew after border guards fought back. However, Zayvitsky's statement could not be verified.