UK intelligence: at least 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers surrender from Azovstal

At least 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers have likely surrendered to the Russian military after holding out in the Azovstal steel plant, in the key Sea of Azov port city of Mariupol, a UK intelligence update stated Friday morning. 

The report says that while an unknown number of Ukrainian troops are still holding out in the steel plant, Russia will continue to work to secure Mariupol, after which they will shift their forces to reinforce their various operations in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas  region, Reuters cited the UK intelligence as saying. 

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. 

Hostilities have been in progress since then. 

Mariupol is the worst affected city as 98 percent of it has been destroyed by Russian troops.