MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. No more than 2,500 Ukrainian troops, nationalists, and foreign mercenaries are holed up at the Azovstal metallurgical plant, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Saturday.

"During the liberation of Mariupol, 1,464 Ukrainian soldiers have already surrendered. Their number is increasing daily, including those who fled from Azovstal. According to their statements, the total number of Ukrainian troops, Nazis and foreign mercenaries who have holed up at Azovstal does not exceed 2,500," Konashenkov said.

According to the general, as of April 16, the Ukrainian grouping has lost more than 4,000 people in Mariupol alone.