1035 mercenaries killed in Ukraine

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces in Ukraine have killed 1,035 mercenaries, out of an estimated 6,824 that came from 63 countries.

It said 400 foreign fighters are holed up in Mariupol’s sprawling Azovstal metallurgical plant, a factory complex spread over 11 square kilometers.

There Ukrainian forces ignored Russia’s ultimatum which expired on Sunday and have refused to surrender.

RT.com reported that 1,717 Polish fighters lead the group of foreign fighters, while around 1,500 came from the US, Canada and Romania.

Up to 300 people each came from the UK and Georgia, while 193 arrived from the Turkish-controlled areas of Syria.

These figures were announced on Sunday by Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov.

“Most of them are citizens of European countries, as well as Canada,” Konashenkov stated, adding that Russian forces have intercepted radio communications from the plant in six foreign languages.

After the surrender of more than 1,000 members of Ukraine’s 36th Marines Brigade at the Ilyich Steel and Iron Works in Mariupol earlier this week, which Ukraine denies, the Russian military offered the defenders at Azovstal a final chance to lay down their arms and surrender on Sunday morning, promising that “all who lay down their weapons are guaranteed the preservation of life.”