Russian forces captured the city of Mariupol after a month-long siege that virtually razed the city in spring 2022.
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The city of Mariupol fell to Russian forces after being virtually razed in a month-long siege in spring 2022
Mariupol has since been occupied by the Russian army
Evacuated Ukrainian defenders from Azovstal received medical treatment
Helicopters flew a complex route, avoiding air defense systems by using terrain folds and ultra-low altitudes to remain undetected.
The unit was the first to conduct such a helicopter landing in Mariupol, causing Russian forces to be too shocked to offer full resistance.
The operation was carried out under the 'top secret' classification.
The soldiers landed near Azovstal and contacted their colleagues, who were later picked up by a car.
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Extraction metadata
Extracted: 2026-02-16T21:57:11.586Z
Source story: 26329