TASS, citing a source in law enforcement agencies , reports that the commanders of the Azov regiment who surrendered in Mariupol are in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center in Moscow. At the same time, the interlocutor of the agency did not specify who he was talking about.

On June 18, TASS, also citing a source in law enforcement agencies, reported that Azov’s deputy Svyatoslav Palamar (Kalina) and the commander of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) Serhiy Volynsky (Volyn) were transferred to Russia for investigation. According to him, other heads of various Ukrainian units were also transported along with them. The TASS source did not specify which Russian region and the commanders of which units are in question.

In May, 2.5 thousand Ukrainian soldiers who defended Azovstal surrendered . On June 7, TASS reported that more than a thousand of them were sent to Russia for investigation.

“Thanks to the actions of the Ukrainian military Armed Forces of Ukraine, intelligence, as well as the negotiating group, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN, we have hope that we will be able to save the lives of our guys. I want to emphasize that Ukraine needs Ukrainian heroes alive. This is our principle. I think that every adequate person will understand these words," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.