The commander of the Azov Regiment, Lt. Col. Denis Prokopenko, has issued a brief video message from contained in the Azovstal metal plant in Mariupol.

Prokopenko mentioned that the highest army management had “issued an order to protect the garrison troopers’ life and well being and cease defending the town.”

The message implies that these remaining at Azovstal are planning to depart the plant within the close to future. There are considered a number of hundred fighters left contained in the sprawling advanced.

Azovstal was the final holdout in in any other case Russian-occupied Mariupol and have become an emblem of Ukrainian resistance below relentless Russian bombardment.

Prokopenko added: “Regardless of heavy preventing … and lack of provides, we continually emphasised the three most essential situations for us: civilians, wounded, and useless. Civilians had been evacuated.

The injured have been taken to a hospital within the self-declared Donetsk Individuals’s Republic.

“As for the fallen heroes, the method is ongoing. However I hope that within the close to future, households and all of Ukraine will be capable to bury their troopers with honors.”

Some background: Russian Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu mentioned on Friday that just about 2,000 Ukrainian troopers have surrendered on the Azovstal plant.

In remarks carried by Russian state media, Shoigu mentioned: “The blocking of the Azovstal plant continues … Nationalists are actively surrendering to captivity. In the meanwhile, 1,908 folks laid down their arms.”

CNN can not independently confirm these figures.