Home ›› 06 May 2022 ›› Front
Ukrainian fighters inside the Azovstal steel plant in the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol are engaged in a bloody battle against Russian troops, said the commander of the Azov regiment.
In a video post on the Telegram on Thursday, Commander Denis Prokopenko praised his troops for their valiant actions against the Russians, reports BBC.
He described the overall situation as extremely difficult.
His message came as Ukrainian officials say Russian troops have entered the factory. The steel plant in Mariupol is now being referred to as the last base of Ukrainian troops.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the evacuation of civilians from the huge factory will continue.
‘Russia breaks ceasefire promise’
A deputy Ukrainian commander fighting in the Azovstal steelworks has accused Russian troops of thwarting efforts to evacuate civilians. In a video posted on Telegram, Capt Svyatoslav Palamar said, “It’s day three since the enemy entered the Azovstal factory, where heavy, bloody fighting continues”.
“Yet again, the Russians have broken their promises of a ceasefire and did not allow the evacuation of civilians who continue to shelter from the shelling in the factory’s basements.
“Our enemy observes no ethical norms, conventions or laws”.
Palamar also asked Ukraine’s Presi dent Volodymyr Zelensky to “take care of wounded soldiers who are dying in horrible agony because there is no appropriate medical care” and called on the international community for further assistance evacuating civilians.
Earlier, a Kremlin spokesperson was quoted by Reuters as saying that Russia was not storming the plant and that humanitarian corridors out of the steelworks were functioning.
However, BBC is unable to verify each side’s claims. Evacuees describe ‘hellish’ conditions inside Azovstal
We have been hearing from people in a shelter in Zaporizhia who were evacuated from the Azovstal steel plant in the past week, who said conditions inside the plant were “hellish”.
A woman named Katerina said she didn’t see the light of day or breathe fresh air while she was stuck in the steelworks.
She described her fears for the safety of men who were with them in the shelters, who “cooked over the fire” and “brought water so we could wash ourselves.”
She said if the last remaining Ukrainian soldiers who are holed up in the steelworks don’t leave, “they will all be killed”.
A woman named Olena said, “People do not stop crying. They’re in absolute desperation to get out of there.
“People started thinking about suicide because there’s no way out of it.”
Mark, an 11-year-old-boy, said he was scared of the warplanes as they were always firing” and “there were bombs falling and exploding”.
“It was scary to hear all that - the whole bunker shook,” he said.
