Moscow. May 23. INTERFAX - The Russian military has begun demining the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
"Russian sapper units are conducting engineering reconnaissance and mine clearance from explosive objects on the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol," the Russian Defense Ministry said. According to the ministry, more than 100 explosive objects were destroyed in two days.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that sappers detect and neutralize minefields and traps made of antipersonnel mines, which mined the entire perimeter of the enterprise and buildings on its territory. In addition, unexploded ordnance and dangerous weapons are neutralized.
"Specialized armored mine clearance vehicles are involved in the work in the most dangerous areas," the ministry said.
On Friday, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that on May 20, the last group of 531 people from the Ukrainian forces at Azovstal surrendered.
A total of 2,439 people from the Ukrainian Azov regiment and servicemen of the armed forces of Ukraine have surrendered at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol since May 16, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the Azovstal plant and underground structures have completely come under the control of the Russian army.
"Russian Defense Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the completion of the operation and the complete liberation of the plant and the city of Mariupol from Ukrainian militants," Konashenkov said.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation stated that the commander of the Ukrainian regiment "Azov" was taken from the territory of the Azovstal plant in a special armored car.
On May 16, the Russian military reported that an agreement had been reached on the removal of wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal plant, and a humanitarian corridor had been opened.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation published footage in which the Ukrainian military, who were blocked at the Azovstal plant, surrendered to the Russian army. There are women among those who surrendered. The Russian Defense Ministry also published footage from a hospital and a temporary detention center in the DPR, where Ukrainian prisoners were transported.
Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Irina Vereshchuk earlier expressed hope for the exchange of wounded Ukrainian soldiers after their recovery. "After their condition is stabilized, we will exchange them for Russian prisoners of war," Vereshchuk said in the telegram channel.
Kiev linked further negotiations with Moscow, including with the fate of the Ukrainian military and civilians who are blocked at Azovstal.
Meanwhile, on May 17, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation announced that the Supreme Court of Russia at the end of May will consider the statement of claim of the Prosecutor General's Office to recognize the formation of "Azov" as a terrorist organization and ban its activities in the Russian Federation.
Mariupol is located on the northern coast of the Sea of Azov, it is one of the largest commercial sea ports in Ukraine. Almost 500 thousand people lived in the city.
On February 21, the President of Russia signed a decree recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. On February 24, Putin announced the start of a special military operation in Ukraine.
In response, many countries have imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia. A number of countries supply Ukraine with weapons and equipment.
