Nearly 700 more Ukrainian fighters surrendered in Mariupol on Wednesday, but Kyiv remained mute on their fate, while a pro-Russian separatist spokesman said leaders were still holed up in tunnels beneath the massive Azovstal steelworks.

Ukrainian officials prohibited all public discussion of the fate of the fighters who had made their last stand in Mariupol more than a day after Kyiv declared it had ordered its army in Mariupol to stand down.

694 more combatants surrendered overnight, increasing the total number of people who have put down arms to 959, according to Russia’s defense ministry. Requests for comment from Ukraine’s defense ministry were not returned.

Denis Pushilin, the leader of pro-Russian separatists in possession of the area, was quoted by a local news agency as stating that the plant’s key commanders had yet to surrender: “They have not departed,” he said.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian officials acknowledged the surrender of around 250 fighters. They did not disclose how many more were inside or what would happen to them, and they made it clear on Wednesday that no further remark would be made for the time being.

“Unfortunately, the matter is highly sensitive, and there are some very delicate negotiations going on today, so I cannot say anything more,” Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko stated. He stated conversations were taking place between President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Red Cross, and the United Nations, but he didn’t elaborate.

“What matters most is that our boys rescued our country and allowed us to prepare for this catastrophic conflict.”

The talks over Mariupol’s capitulation took place as Finland and Sweden formally requested to join NATO, paving the way for the same expansion that Russian President Vladimir Putin has long identified as one of the key reasons for beginning the “special military operation” in February.

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