Occupiers trying to break into Azovstal under cover of shelling

russian troops under cover of shelling try to break into the territory of the Azovstal metallurgical plant, where the Ukrainian fighters of the Mariupol garrison are holding the fort.

This was announced by the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko on Telegram.

"Mariupol. Azovstal. The occupiers are trying to break into the ground under the cover of shelling. Almost live. The situation is becoming more complicated day by day," the statement said.

Note

Soldiers of the Azov Regiment, together with their comrades, have been defending Mariupol for more than 75 days.

There are about 600 seriously wounded soldiers in the shelters of the Azovstal plant, which has been blocked by the enemy.

The russians are constantly shelling the territory of the metallurgical plant with all kinds of weapons, including airplanes and naval artillery, and are repeatedly trying to storm.

Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk stated that the special evacuation operation from Azovstal would begin with the rescue of severely wounded servicemen and will take place in several stages.

Earlier, Ukraine offered russia to exchange seriously wounded Azovstal fighters for russian prisoners according to the standard rules of a prisoner exchange.

According to Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories, Iryna Vereshchuk, it is currently impossible to unblock Azovstal by military means.

Defenders of Azovstal are not going to surrender, and the russians do not agree to the "extraction" procedure.