Azovstal Will Be Demolished, Says Pushilin

The Ilyich Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol will be restored, while the Azovstal plant will be demolished, and a different project will be implemented in its place. This was announced by the head of the Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, to reporters on Wednesday, according to TASS.

A nearly unanimous decision was made regarding the Ilyich plant, confirming that it should be restored. As for the Azovstal plant, the opinions of Mariupol residents have been taken into account, stating that the plant has polluted the environment since its inception. 'Other projects are planned for the site of Azovstal. This could be a techno-park, a residential area, or a park,' he stated.

Pushilin noted that the authorities intend to transform Mariupol into a resort city.

Earlier, it was reported that encircled Ukrainian servicemen in the area of the Ukrainian Azovstal plant continue to surrender, as announced on Wednesday by Major General Igor Konashenkov, an official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

'The nationalists of the Azov unit and Ukrainian servicemen blocked at the Azovstal plant continue to surrender. Over the past day, 694 militants have surrendered, including 29 who were wounded,' Konashenkov said, emphasizing that since May 16, a total of 959 militants have surrendered, including 80 wounded.

On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the start of the surrender of the nationalists and Ukrainian servicemen blocked at the Azovstal plant. According to the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee, investigators will interrogate the surrendered militants as part of criminal investigations into crimes committed by the Ukrainian regime against the peaceful population of Donbas.

The territory of Azovstal remains the last area in Mariupol under the control of the Ukrainian side. Fighting for the city lasted nearly two months, culminating in a victory for Russian and Donetsk forces. On April 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu on the complete liberation of Mariupol.