Arestovic said on Wednesday that “in Mariupol, as a result of a dangerous maneuver, units of the 36th Independent Marine Brigade invaded [join] the constitution of Azov “. Both units have been involved in a recent attempt to resist the Russian offensive against the city that lasted much more than a month. “This happens when the officers do not lose their heads, but maintain firm command and control of the troops,” Arestovic said. CNN can not independently confirm the details of the operation. Members of the Marine Corps released a video statement Tuesday saying they would hold “until the end” despite being surrounded by Russian forces and supplies running low. On his Facebook account, Arestovich said that Azov’s constitution had “received substantial reinforcements … the 36th Brigade avoided defeat and received additional serious opportunities, in fact, it won a second chance”. Arestovic claimed that “the defenders of the city, now together, have seriously strengthened their defensive area.” Defenders of the city, where about 100,000 civilians remain trapped in widespread disaster, are fighting to retain parts of the port and Azovstal, a giant steel plant on the eastern outskirts of Mariupol. The Russian military said in a statement Wednesday that 1,026 Ukrainian Marines – including 162 officers and 47 women servicemen – had been handed over to the Ilyich steel plant in Mariupol, a claim that could not be verified. Russia has stepped up its intense propaganda effort around the battle for Mariupol, claiming to have occupied key positions in the city, even though Ukrainian forces continued to hold out. Background: An independent analysis of the situation in Mariupol on Sunday, published by the Institute for the Study of War, estimated that the defense of Mariupol had reached a critical stage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “tens of thousands” had died in Mariupol, a number that could not be independently verified.
