On April 4, Russia's Chechen regional leader Kadyrov posted a video on social media announcing that the remaining 267 men of the 503rd Independent Marine Battalion of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Marine Corps, trapped in the remaining narrow area of Mariupol, had collectively laid down their arms and surrendered to Russian Chechen forces. This is not only the largest number of Single Captures of Ukrainian Troops since the Entry of Russian Chechen Troops into the War, but also the largest number of Russian Prisoners of The War Since the Beginning of the War. It is worth mentioning that this 503rd Battalion is also relatively special, because it is one of the few battalion-level units that was personally awarded the battle flag by former Ukrainian President Poroshenko, so it can be regarded as an honorary unit. Its demise also marked the beginning of the final countdown to the siege of Mariupol.
Pictured: The 503rd Battalion surrenders
The 503rd Battalion was formed very late, and it was not a historic unit. As a subordinate unit of the 36th Marine Brigade, it was only formed in 2016 and was initially known as the 701st Independent Marine Battalion, and in 2017 it was renamed the 500th Independent Marine Battalion. Finally, on November 16, 2017, Poroshenko personally awarded the battle flag of the 503rd Independent Marine Battalion, which was determined by the number, and the logo of the battalion was also determined to be a badger.
Pictured: Poroshenko presents the battle flag to the 503rd Battalion
Pictured: The emblem of the 503rd Battalion is the Badgers
Since the 503rd Battalion is an independent battalion, its organization is relatively large and the degree of integration is relatively high. Below it were two infantry companies with mixed BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles, one assault company that could operate in helicopters, supported by a fire support company equipped with small and medium-caliber mortars and large-caliber machine guns, a heavy mortar company, a self-propelled artillery company equipped with a 2S1 122mm self-propelled howitzer, and a sniper platoon. In addition, the battalion has its own anti-aircraft units, including an anti-aircraft gun platoon equipped with ZU-23-2 twin 23 mm anti-aircraft guns and an anti-aircraft missile platoon equipped with man-portable anti-aircraft missiles. The battalion support force had an sapper platoon, a guard rescue platoon and a transport platoon. In terms of reconnaissance, there is also a reconnaissance platoon in the battalion.
Pictured: 503rd Battalion Infantry Company mixed with BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles
Pictured: 2S1 self-propelled howitzer of the 503rd Battalion
Pictured: The 503rd Battalion's pickup chassis ZU-23-2 vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft guns
It can be seen that the 503rd Battalion is a synthetic combat battalion with complete elements and strong independent combat capabilities, especially with strong firepower and 122 self-propelled guns. This was advantageous in defensive operations with easy ammunition and logistical support, and the permanent station of the battalion was originally Mariupol, where there was a large stockpile of war materiel, so it could hold out for a long time. But caught between the southern group of the Russian army and the eastern group dominated by the Donetsk and Luhansk militias, Mariupol has long been turned into an isolated city supported by the main Ukrainian forces. And as the Area controlled by the Russian Army and militias grew larger and larger, Mariupol was further and further away from the Area Controlled by the Ukrainian Army, and there was no hope of rescue at all.
Pictured: There is no hope of rescue and breakout from Mariupol
Pictured: The area controlled by the Ukrainian army in the city is already very small
Pictured: Operational staff officer of the 503rd Battalion who escaped alive at the end of March
Pictured: The Uranjun Mi-8 trying to enter Mariupol to pick up people
Although the Ukrainian army has used helicopters to break into the city at a very low altitude to try to pick up some important personnel and advisers, most of them have been shot down. From this point of view, the command level of the Ukrainian army has also made the decision to abandon the main force in the city, so there is no point in the city troops fighting any longer. Combat units such as the 503rd Battalion are different from far-right combat units such as the Azov Battalion affiliated with the Ukrainian National Guard, and they do not have any "blood debts" that are hung up on the side of the militia and the Russian army, and there is no need to worry about being liquidated after surrender. Coupled with the fact that the battalion's command had long since collapsed, the battalion commander had been killed, and the deputy battalion commander and battalion combat staff had escaped in disguise and had been captured, so the battalion had actually lost its command, and it was only natural that the decision to surrender en masse was finally made.