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Military operation in Ukraine

DPR forces begin withdrawal of heavy weapons from liberated Mariupol

Azov nationalists offered fierce resistance

MARIUPOL, May 22. /TASS/. People’s Militias of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) have begun to withdraw heavy weapons, including tanks, from Mariupol, which has been liberated from Ukrainian armed units, a tank crewman told TASS on Sunday.

"We are redeploying weapons to another location. <…> Azov (battalion) nationalists offered fierce resistance," he said.

The battles for Mariupol began on February 25. Now, the city is controlled by Russian and DPR forces. Restoration works have already begun.

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Friday that Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu had reported to President Vladimir Putin about the completion of the operation and the liberation of the Azovstal works and the entire city from Ukrainian militants. Since May 16, a total of 2,439 Azov nationalists and Ukrainian troops, who had been blocked on the plant’s territory since April 21, have surrendered.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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