1026 prisoners
Following reported offensive operations by Russian forces and police units of the Donetsk People’s Republic in Mariupol, at the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works, 1,026 Ukrainian soldiers from the 36th Marine Brigade reportedly laid down their arms and surrendered. The disclosure noted that among those surrendering were 162 officers and 47 female service members. A total of 151 injured Ukrainian soldiers received on-site medical care before being transported to Mariupol city hospital. (Attribution: official statements from the Russian side.)
300 injured
Earlier, a correspondent for the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company claimed the Ukrainian forces were captured after surrendering to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the DPR Ministry of State Security. The report described 300 injured individuals and 90 unable to act independently among the prisoners. The correspondent suggested that more than 800 able-bodied personnel remained and expressed the view that a planned defense at the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works would collapse. (Attribution: official TV channel report.)
Photos from the scene were shared by the reporter.
“Come out with the white flag”
The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, later posted information about the surrender on the Telegram channel. He stated that more than a thousand Ukrainian marines had surrendered in Mariupol, including hundreds of wounded. He framed the development as a correct choice. (Attribution: Kadyrov’s Telegram post.)
Kadyrov claimed that Ukrainian groups were dissolving one after another and that the Armed Forces of Ukraine no longer knew how to assist the wounded or proceed. He asserted that Ukraine’s resistance had diminished and that no large fighting force remained. He also noted that only isolated small units remained and urged soldiers not to fear showing the white flag. He highlighted the importance of protecting families and preventable losses. (Attribution: Kadyrov’s analysis.)
He added that about two hundred wounded individuals were reported in the Azovstal complex, unable to receive medical care. The message expressed a view that ending the conflict and returning home would be beneficial for everyone. (Attribution: Kadyrov’s update.)
Finally, Kadyrov called on those still trapped in basements and tunnels of the plant to come out. He stressed that prisoners are treated humanely and urged surrender as a humane choice. (Attribution: Kadyrov’s appeal.)
Battles for Mariupol
Hostilities in Mariupol have persisted since the start of the Russian operation in Ukraine. Reports indicated that the city’s perimeter was crossed by DPR forces on March 7. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Russian troops had besieged the city on March 2 and blocked it by March 11. On the Russian side, Chechen special forces participated in the combat operations. (Attribution: official military communications.)
Fighting continued primarily in the Azovstal area, where the LPR people’s militia estimated the presence of about three and a half thousand Ukrainian troops. On April 11, Eduard Basurin, a spokesman for the DPR militia, commented that attacking the underground fortifications of the Azovstal plant was not productive. He suggested focusing on containment, locating exits and entrances, and preventing further losses through a blockade. (Attribution: DPR militia spokesperson.)
Konstantin Ivashchenko, appointed mayor of Mariupol on April 7 by the DPR leadership, reported that approximately five thousand civilians were unaccounted for in the city. He noted that around 250,000 people had left the Ukrainian city during the operation and that roughly 60–70% of housing had been damaged, with around 10% of buildings completely demolished. (Attribution: local authorities.)
Efforts to coordinate humanitarian corridors continue, allowing civilians to evacuate toward Kyiv or areas controlled by the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics and the Russian Federation. (Attribution: humanitarian coordination briefings.)
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