May 11, 2022

The Fighters of Azov


The Fighters of Azov

“Surrender is not an option.”

–  Ilya Samoilenko, Ukrainian officer in the defense of Azov.

Since the start of the war on February 24, Russia has had its eye on the Ukrainian port city Mariupol. Housed within the city is the Azovstal steel mill. Many civilians have been hiding out in the mill, but now reports are that all civilians have been evacuated.

The last stand of Mariupol is taking place at Azovstal, and the mill has been turned into a fortress by Azov soldiers and Marines of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Russians are bombing the plant daily. Samoilenko reports that there is still food, water, ammunition and weapons, but that they are unable to use artillery and they have not received any resupply. 

While Samoilenko is happy that over 1,000 civilians have been evacuated from Mariupol, he said he mourns the loss of the nearly 25,000 persons killed in the city since the start of the war.

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