Cities "will return" to Ukraine, Zelenskyy says but some soldiers refuse to fight, others surrender

Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is determined to "reclaim control" over the southern cities of Kherson, Melitopol, Berdiansk, Enerhodar and Mariupol, now occupied by Russian troops.

“All of our cities and communities under occupation – under temporary occupation – should know that Ukraine will return,” Zelenskyy said.
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* Video 1. "We were sent to die! Without weapons and ammunition!" - Armed forces at the front refuse to fight

This time, a platoon of the 3rd battalion of the 115th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine refused to fight.
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** Video 2. Russia's defence ministry said Wednesday that 959 Ukrainian soldiers had surrendered this week at the besieged Azovstal steel plant in Ukraine's port city of Mariupol.

"Over the past 24 hours, 694 militants surrendered, including 29 wounded," the ministry said in its daily briefing on the conflict. "In total since May 16, 959 militants surrendered, including 80 wounded." It said those requiring medical treatment were taken to a hospital in the town of Novoazovsk in Russian-controlled territory.

Kyiv is hoping to exchange the surrendered Ukrainian fighters, but Russia has yet to confirm whether they will be part of a prisoner swap.

Several women were spotted among surrendered Ukrainian militants and troops entrenched in the Azovstal steel complex in Mariupol, according to video footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

According to the released video, at least five women were among the surrendered people. One of them carried a suitcase, another a rucksack and a third one had a backpack. One more woman carried a huge bag.
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*** Video 3. Top-ranking Ukrainian commanders holed up at Mariupol’s Azovstal steelworks are yet to surrender, local media has quoted leader Denis Pushilin as saying.

Pushilin, who heads Donetsk People’s Republic, said that the hundreds of fighters who had given themselves up did not include any commanders of the highest level, the Donetsk News Agency (DAN) reported.

“They have not left [the plant],” he said.
@EL ETOS UT