Heavy fighting continued on Thursday inside the depths of demolished steel mill in Mariupol as Russian forces tried to overcome last defenders of Ukrainian vital port city And complete that it capture.
bloody battle This came amid growing speculation that President Vladimir Putin wants to present the Russian image people with Basic battlefield success – or announcing an escalation of the war – in the time for Victory Day on Monday. This is the biggest national holiday on Russian calendar, marking the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany.
About 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are holed up, according to Russia’s latest estimate up in Tunnels and bunkers under the sprawling Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol last pocket of resistance in a city so far reduced to the ruins over The past two months. It was a few hundred civilians also Thought trapped there.
Captain Svyatoslav Palamar who as deputy commander of The Ukrainian Azov Regiment led the defenders inside the factory, telling Ukrainian television that Russian troops were inside the factory for The third day and faces fierce resistance.
“Violent fighting is underway,” Ballamer said.
The Russians got in with The help of Electrician who Custom layout, said Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.
“I see them underground tunnels leading to the factory, ”said Gerashenko in video posted late on Wednesday. Yesterday the Russians began storming these tunnels, using The information They received it from the traitor.”
The Kremlin denied that its forces stormed the factory.
The fall of Mariupol will be big success for Moscow, depriving Ukraine of A vital port, allowing Russia to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which it captured from Ukraine in 2014 and Editing up forces fight in another place in East Donbass Industrial District region that the Kremlin says It is now its main target.
pleading with amarand with The world To put pressure on Russia to allow more Civilians to be rescued from steel mills all along with wounded fighters. About 100 civilians have been evacuated over weekend.
“The wounded soldiers be dying in agony of deficiency of He said “appropriate treatment” via video.
The Kremlin called on the fighters to surrender. They refused. Russia has also accused them of Prevent civilians from leaving.
Katerina Prokopenko, wife of Denis Prokopenko, commander of the Azov Regiment, said that without an evacuation by European leaders, the troops inside would do so. die.
They stand to the end. They just hope for a miracle. …they won’t say in Letters to the Associated Press (AP). she said that in a call with Ha husbandHe said he would love her forever.
“I’m crazy about this. It seems like Words of She said goodbye. “They held out Too long and worthy to be saved.”
Meanwhile, after 10 weeks of devastating war, the Ukraine War military She claimed to have taken back some areas in The south repelled other attacks in East, further thwarting Putin’s ambitions after his failed attempt to seize it Kyiv. Ukrainian and Russian forces are fighting village after village.
The head of British Armed Forces, Chief of Admiral Tony Radakin said Putin was “trying to rush to achieve a tactical victory” ahead of D-Day. But he said that the Russian forces struggling to gain momentum in Donbass.
And so is Russia, Radakin told Britain’s Talk TV using Missiles and weapons in like this rate This is in Logistics war to keep supply. he is added: “this will be hard Tighten “
fear of new Attacks surrounding D-Day, the mayor of Western Ukrainian city of Ivano-Frankivsk urged residents to leave for The countryside over Long weekends and warn them not to gather in public Places.
and southeast city of Zaporizhia, a key crossing point for were evacuated from Mariupol, announced Curfew from Sunday evening until Tuesday morning.
In other developments, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko defended Russia invasion of Ukraine in Interview with Associated Press, but said he did not expect the conflict to continue on This is amazing way. “
Lukashenko, whose country the Russians used as a springboard for The invasionhe said that Moscow should act because of Kyiv He was “provoking” Russia.
but he also created some distance Between him and the Kremlin, he repeatedly called for Ending conflict and referring to it as “war” – A term Moscow refuses use. She insists on called “special military proces.”
Mariupol, which was before the war population of over 400,000, has come to symbolize misery the war. the siege of The city Probably 100,000 civilians with Little food, water, medicine, or heat.
Like battle Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major-General Igor Konashenkov said Russian shelling raged there on Thursday. hit dozens of Ukrainian military Objectives, including the concentration of forces in From the east, an artillery battery near the eastern settlement of Zaruzni, multiple rocket launchers near the south city of Mykolaiv.
five people Killed and wounded at least 25 in bombing of cities in Donbass over The past 24 hours, Ukrainian officials said. The attacks destroyed homes and a school.
Ukrainian forces said it made some gains on the border of southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv repelled 11 Russian attacks in Donetsk and Luhansk regions that manufacture up Donbass.
The institute is based in Washington for the study of The war said Ukrainian forces had “largely impeded the Russian advance.” in Eastern Ukraine”, intense Russian air strikes on Transportation Infrastructure in western part of The country has failed To stop Western aid shipments to Ukraine.
with the challenge of Demining and rebuilding after the war in Mind, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced release of a global A fundraising platform called United24.
Meanwhile, Poland hosted a international Donor Conference That Raised $6.5 Billion in humanitarian aid. The gathering was attended by prime Many European ministers and ambassadors countriesas well as actors of Farther countries and some companies.
In addition, the Ukrainian Cabinet body I started developing proposals for Comprehensive plan for post-war reconstruction, while Zelensky also Western allies urged to put forward a program similar to postMarshall Plan for World War II help Ukraine rebuild.
