Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hannah Maliard expressed hope that Ukrainian troops who surrendered at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol would be exchanged for Russian captives, despite a statement by a Russian official Vyacheslav Volodin that they are "criminals who must be brought to justice.

Maliar said the comment by Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin was a political statement, conceived as internal propaganda in line with Russia's internal political processes.

She added that from Ukraine's perspective, the negotiation process and the rescue operation itself are ongoing.

Earlier in the day, Volodin called Azovstal fighters "Nazi criminals" who should be excluded from any future exchanges and whom Russia must bring to justice.

Russia's Supreme Court will decide whether the Azov Regiment is a terrorist organization