Russian MoD: Russian Forces free hostages held in Mariupol Mosque
The Muslims were being held hostage in the Mosque in Mariupol by Ukrainian Nazis.
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Some 1,160 Ukrainian soldiers, including 176 officers, of the 36th Marine Brigade, surrendered to the Russian forces in Mariupol earlier this week (AFP)
Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday that Russian special troops released and rescued Muslims imprisoned by Ukrainian Nazis in a mosque in Mariupol.
"During the offensive aimed at liberating the city of Mariupol, at the request of Turkish President R. [Tayyip] Erdogan, a special operation was carried out in the Primorsky district on April 16 to free hostages held by Ukrainian Nazis in a Turkish mosque," Konashenkov said.
29 militants, including foreign mercenaries, were killed in the process, and the mosque was successfully unblocked.
"The hostages, citizens of one of the CIS countries, were released and taken to a safe place," Konashenkov added.
Yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will walk away from the negotiations table with Russia if Kiev's troops in Mariupol are eliminated.
Some 1,160 Ukrainian soldiers, including 176 officers, of the 36th Marine Brigade, surrendered to the Russian forces in Mariupol earlier this week. Moscow's Ministry of Defense said it would allow all Ukrainian troops to withdraw through humanitarian corridors, pledging to spare Ukrainian nationalists who agree to law down their arms.
