Russia and Ukraine reach agreement to evacuate wounded from Azovstal

An agreement was reached with representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to evacuate the wounded from the territory of Azovstal steel plant, representatives for the Russian Ministry of Defense said.  “On May 16, as a result of negotiations with representatives of Ukrainian military personnel blocked on the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol, an agreement was reached to evacuate the wounded,” the defense ministry said. Earlier, the Ukrainian military, who left the territory of Azovstal plant in Mariupol, announced their desire to negotiate. According to Alexander Khodakovsky, the founder of the Vostok Battalion of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), nine fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine represented the interests of the majority of the Ukrainian servicemen that still remain entrapped at Azovstal underground facilities.