After the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, confirmed, on Friday, that diplomatic efforts were underway to rescue the remaining fighters holed up inside the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol cityUkraine’s Deputy Prime Minister, Irina Vereshchuk, was quoted by the Ukrainian News Agency as saying that her country is in complex talks with Russia to get everyone out.
The official added that efforts are focused on rescuing all fighters at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol.
Azovstal became the heart of the country
Vereshchuk wrote on Telegram that the Azovstal plant is now the heart of the country, explaining that in addition to the Azov battalion, there are the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Border Guard, the Ukrainian security services, the police and territorial defense units.
She also considered that there were no miracles in the war, stressing that her country had taken a sober and practical approach that might be successful, as she put it.
In addition, she explained that the Ukrainian side received an order from President Volodymyr Zelensky to do everything possible to save every person in Azovstal.
Promise not to accept
It is reported that the defenders of the factory had vowed not to surrender.
Ukrainian officials fear that Russian forces will seek to eliminate them by Monday, the commemoration of the former Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Ukraine announced the evacuation of 50 civilians on Friday, accusing Russia of violating a truce aimed at allowing dozens of others still trapped underground to leave following weeks of siege.
Until Zelensky stressed in a video speech hours ago that Ukraine was making diplomatic efforts to rescue the defenders holed up inside the steel plant.
It is not clear how many Ukrainian fighters are still at the plant.