Putin has ordered to cancel the assault of the Mariupol industrial zone, where the Ukrainian servicemen are located
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered to cancel the assault of the industrial zone of Mariupol (Donetsk region). These are the positions of the Ukrainian servicemen at the Azovstal plant in a city surrounded by Russian invaders.
This statement was made at his meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, which details were reported in the Kremlin’s press service.
Shoigu reported to the Kremlin boss that Mariupol is ostensibly fully under the control of Russian troops and militants of the DNR terrorist group. At a meeting with Putin, the Russian Defense Minister said that the Ukrainian servicemen were blocked in the industrial zone of the Azovstal plant and that it would take “about three or four days to storm their positions”.
In response, Putin said he “considers it inexpedient” to assault the industrial zone of Mariupol. Instead, the host of the aggressor country ordered to block the territory where the Ukrainian troops are located. Putin’s order was motivated by his ostensibly “care” for the “preservation of life and health” of the Russian invaders.
– I count the proposed assaulting on the industrial zone inexpedient. I order to cancel… We do not need to enter these catacombs and crawl underground over these industrial facilities. Block this industrial zone so that no flies fly out, – Putin said.
It is worth noting that, despite Shoigu’s reports, the Ukrainian soldiers continue to resist in blocked Mariupol. According to the Azov Regiment, despite the extremely hard situation, the Ukrainian servicemen have destroyed 3 tanks, 2 infantry fighting vehicles, and armored personnel carriers in the last two days.
Commenting on the Kremlin’s statement, Mariupol Mayor’s Adviser Petro Andriushchenko noted that Putin had ordered a complete siege of Azovstal, which houses not only Ukrainian soldiers but also civilians.
– Assault on Azovstal. It is worth noting that Putin’s words (if you believe them) do not mean that sort of abolition of the assault. And about the complete siege. The situation for our defenders and civilians in Azovstal will not change. Here only Putin’s desire, at least somehow against the background of the destroyed city, to report on a victory that isn’t present, – Andriushchenko emphasized.
It is known that in recent days in Mariupol, Russian invaders have bombed the Azovstal plant with heavy bombs. In addition, Russian troops were shelling with artillery and tanks at random the residential sector of the Left bank district.
Ukraine’s security service has intercepted the conversation between the Russian occupiers, which has revealed that Russia wants to destroy the Azovstal metallurgical plant (“level everything to the ground”).
On April 19, Deputy Commander of the Azov Regiment, Sviatoslav “Kalyna” Palamar, informed that the Azovstal plant had been bombed and almost destroyed. He clarified that Russian troops are dropping heavy bombs on the plant, and many people are under the rubble.
On April 20, the occupiers tore down a humanitarian corridor from Mariupol. According to the Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, Iryna Vereshchuk, they will continue the evacuation of civilians from the city today.
Source: the Azov Regiment, Petro Andriushchenko, Kremlin’s press service
