Russia's special military operations in Ukraine have lasted for nearly two months, not only destroying two military units of the Ukrainian Air Force and Navy, but also rapidly occupying several cities, and the recent battle for Mariupol has also been won. The Russian Defense Ministry recently released information that Ukrainian troops, "Azov battalions" and foreign mercenaries in the city of Mariupol have been completely eliminated. A major figure in the Ukrainian army was also beheaded, and the remnants of the military force hid in the Azov steel mill and struggled to support it.
Donetsk armed forces said on the 17th that the 36th Brigade of the Ukrainian Marine Corps stationed in Mariupol tried to break through at night, but was successfully stopped by the armed forces, and 50 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the battle. While inspecting the scene of the battle, the Donetsk armed forces found the body of Brigade Commander Baranùk of the 36th Brigade and his personal equipment. The video released by the Russian media shows that Donetsk armed drones and coordinated with ground forces to kill Baranyuk, and the scene was constantly gunned. The victory of the Russian army in the battlefield of Mariupol is of great significance, on the one hand, it can obtain new strategic and tactical options, on the other hand, it can boost morale.
In Russia's eyes, the "Azov battalion" is a nationalist militant, and the occupation of Mariupol and the elimination of the "Azov battalion" are crucial to the goal of "de-Nazismization". On April 21, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu reported the success to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Shoigu said Mariupol was "liberated" and only armed men remained at the Azov Steel Works. Putin said the fighting operation in Mariupol was "a success" and that all those involved in the operation were "heroes" and instructed the Russian troops involved in the operation to award state medals.
In the attack on Mariupol, the Chechen forces made a great contribution and were indispensable main force in defeating the enemy. Over the past few days, Chechen leader Kadyrov has continuously released reports of the success of the Russian army and the news of the surrender of the Ukrainian soldiers, and called on the Ukrainian army to abandon resistance, surrender its weapons, and gradually psychologically break the other side's defense line. The ukrainian army has gone to power in Mariupol, which is difficult for Ukrainian President Zelenskiy to accept. He has previously said that if Russian troops eliminate the Mariupol defenders, Ukraine will withdraw from the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations. Now that the Russians have completely occupied Mariupol, the next step is the Donbass region, and Zelenskiy has fewer and fewer chips.