@SCM you should really study the Tactics of Russian troops in the events of 2014. You might realise then why the Ukrainians are fighting for their lives and why the Ukrainian troops in Mariupol won't surrender. For example the battle of Ilovaisk. Some of the Ukrainian troops that tried to retake Ilovaisk were surrounded by hostile forces including Russian forces inside Ukraine. they negotiated a ceasefire which received the approval of Putin. This is what happened,
The Battle of Ilovaisk started on 7 August 2014, when the Armed Forces of Ukraine and pro-Ukrainian paramilitaries began a series of attempts to capture the city of Ilovaisk from pro-Russian insurgents affiliated with the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).[4][12] Whilst government forces were able...
military-history.fandom.com
Post 255 above including the following quoted passage...
After days of being under siege in Ilovaisk, commanders of government forces in the city attempted to negotiate an agreement that would allow them to withdraw from the city.
[7][9] Russian president
Vladimir Putin said in the early morning on 29 August that a "humanitarian corridor for besieged Ukrainian soldiers" should be established, allowing the trapped soldiers to leave Ilovaisk.
[18] Yuri Beryoza, a commander in the Dnipro Battalion, managed to quickly reach an agreement with Russian commanders in Ilovaisk to establish such a corridor.
[7] DPR prime minister
Alexander Zakharchenko confirmed that an agreement had been made, and also said that Ukrainian forces were required to leave their armoured vehicles and ammunition behind as a condition of the agreement.
[27] At 06:00, government forces began to move out of Ilovaisk in a column of sixty vehicles.
[7] The first lorry in the column, carrying dead and wounded soldiers, was flying a white flag. The column advanced 10 kilometres (6 1⁄4 mi) along the corridor, about an hour's drive, but was then surrounded by Russian and insurgent troops.
[7][18] These troops opened fire on the column with mortars and heavy machine guns. Vehicles exploded, and the column was obliterated.
[7] Soldiers attempted to flee, but many were captured by Russian and insurgent forces. One fleeing Ukrainian soldier described the situation as "a real meat grinder".
[18] At least 100 soldiers were killed in the ambush, with many more injured or taken prisoner. The Ukrainian government described the events as a "massacre".
[8][28] One insurgent commander said he had taken 173 Ukrainian soldiers prisoner near Ilovaisk, in the aftermath of the ambush. He said that he would use them as laborers to rebuild destroyed Donbass cities.
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...is hopefully fresh in Ukraine’s mind as it looks like President Putin might initially blockade the Azovstal plant and/or allow civilians and injured military out in due course.
www.europeangashub.com
www.frontpagemag.com
www.theguardian.com
www.businessinsider.com
www.ft.com
www.nbcnews.com
