Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov announced that Russian forces will take full control of the AZovestal Steel in Mariupol, today, Thursday.
“Before or following lunchtime, the Azovstal (factory) will be under the complete control of the Russian forces,” Kadyrov said in an audio message posted on the Internet early Thursday (local time).
This comes as Chechen forces are fighting in Ukraine as part of the Russian army’s operations there.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warned, during his visit to Panama, that the Ukrainian city of Mariupol will witness worse scenarios than those that occurred in the city of Bucha, adding that the agreements on humanitarian corridors that were established before .. collapsed very quickly.
The last stronghold of the Ukrainian forces
The Azovstal Steel Plant is said to be the last stronghold of the Ukrainian forces in Mariupol. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday morning that the Russian army “concentrates the bulk of its efforts on controlling the city of Mariupol and continuing its offensive attempts near the factory.” Azofestal for steel”.
While Russia has not commented directly on the developments, pro-Moscow separatists in the Donetsk region – where Mariupol is located – reported that 5 Ukrainian soldiers defending the steel plant laid down their arms, and that 140 civilians had been evacuated.
important goal
It is noteworthy that since the start of the Mariupol siege in early March, Russia has repeatedly called on Ukrainian forces to lay down their weapons.
More than 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers surrendered last week, but hundreds of others, according to pro-Russian separatists, are still stationed at the huge Azovstal plant, where they are fighting fiercely, AFP reported on Tuesday.
Since the launch of the Russian military operation in Ukraine on February 24, this strategic city has been an important target for Moscow, especially since its control will allow the Russian forces present in the east to be linked to the south of the country, especially the Crimea peninsula, which was annexed to Russian territory in 2014.
