To hold off Ukrainian forces, Russian military built new army base in Mariupol, reveal images

Many of the fighters were seriously wounded, and some were brought out in stretchers. It's not clear how many fighters still remain at the sprawling steel mill.

The Azov Regiment fighters were taken to a former penal colony in enemy-controlled territory. A top military official hoped they could be exchanged for Russian prisoners of war. But a Moscow lawmaker said they should be brought to “justice.”

The Russian parliament is planning to take up a resolution to prevent their exchange. Their fighters had held out inside the plant even after Mariupol was effectively in Russian hands.

Russia called it a surrender by Ukrainian troops. Ukraine avoided that word and instead said the plant’s garrison had successfully completed its mission to tie down Russian forces.

With the fighters leaving, Mariupol is almost under complete Russian control. It would be the biggest city to be taken by Moscow’s forces and would give the Kremlin a badly needed victory.