The team of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has registered hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers who left the Azovstal plant in blockaded Mariupol. This was stated in a published statement of the organization.

"The ICRC began on Tuesday, May 17, to register the military leaving the Azovstal plant, including the wounded, at the request of the parties. The operation continued on Wednesday and continued on Thursday," the statement said.

The ICRC refers to Ukrainian defenders of Mariupol as "prisoners of war."

According to the Committee, the registration process involves filling out a form with personal information such as name, date of birth and names of next of kin. This information allows the ICRC to "keep track of POWs and help them keep in touch with their families," the statement said.

As noted, the ICRC maintains a confidential dialogue with the parties about their obligations under international humanitarian law.