Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has said that his forces have “successfully” taken control of Mariupol, a strategically important port-city in southeastern Ukraine.

The Russian President also told his Defence Minister that he only wanted to besiege the last Ukrainian fighters fortified at the Azovstal steel plant, because an attack would cost a lot of lives, as the zone consists mainly of an extensive network of underground tunnels. 

“I do not think the proposed attack on the industrial zone is appropriate. I order you to cancel it,” Putin said. “We must think of the lives and health of our soldiers and officers, we must not penetrate these catacombs and crawl underground,” he continued. “Block this whole zone so that nobody can pass.”

According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, there are still 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers in these large industrial facilities. Putin also vowed to save the lives of those who surrender, Euronews reports.

“I urge all those who have not laid down their arms to do so. The Russian side guarantees that their lives will be spared and that they will be treated with dignity,” he said, whereas the wounded who surrender will be provided with medical assistance.

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At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Defence announced today that Russian forces fired artillery and rockets at 1,001 military targets in Ukraine last night, including 162 positions from which shells were fired.

Russian forces and Russian-backed separatists have also taken full control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kremina, the Russian Defence Ministry added.

Today Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister, Irina Verestsuk, demanded that Russia urgently allow the evacuation of civilians and wounded soldiers from the Azovstal steel factory through a humanitarian corridor.

On the other hand, Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation, said that the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol – the last enclave of Ukrainian resistance in this port of strategic importance in the Sea of ​​Azov – will be occupied within the day.

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