Nearly 1,000 troops have left Mariupol steelworks, says Russia

Russian servicemen frisk Ukrainian troops as they leave the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russia has said that nearly 1,000 Ukrainian troops at a giant steelworks in Mariupol have surrendered, abandoning their dogged defence of a site that has become a symbol of their country’s resistance.

Ukraine ordered the fighters to save their lives – and said their mission to tie up Russian forces was now complete – but has not called the column of soldiers walking out of the plant a surrender.