Azov-Nazis trapped in the Azovstal Plant moved out while the ceasefire was in effect, as reported by Russia. The neo-Nazi's attempts to find new positions are suppressed, said the Kremlin.
Putin Orders To Stop Direct Assault
Russian forces are not raiding the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. Many Ukrainian militaries and neo-Nazi Azov battalions have been cooped up for more than a month, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked on Wednesday, reported RT.
The Russian official said their military abides by President Vladimir Putin's earlier order not to storm the plant. He went on to say that there was no attack. When militants get out to take over gun emplacements, there are flare-ups. These attempts are quickly thwarted, citing TASS.
Several Russian and Ukrainian media sites reported last Tuesday that combat had erupted at and around the massive steelworks compound after a few days of relative calm due to a ceasefire declared by Moscow to enable the evacuation of residents from the area.
The Azovstal factory was being targeted with artillery and aerial attacks based on reports. Unconfirmed social media footage appeared to support this, showing clouds of smoke pouring from the plant, noted the Press United.
Mariupol Seized, Russia Claims
Moscow claims that its forces now control the entire port city of Mariupol, except the Azovstal plant, which features an extensive network of fortified Cold War-era bunkers and tubes and has been used by Ukrainian troops and Azov-Nazis for more than a month.
Fearing severe losses among Russian troops, Russian President Vladimir Putin called off an attempt to raid the steelworks last April 21. Instead, he commanded a total lockdown of the Ukrainian forces bottled up there.
Peskov was queried about the approach in Mariupol and also added a statement regarding Western media reports that President Putin might order a mass mobilization in Russia on May 9, the day the country commemorates its World War II victory.
The Kremlin spokesperson dismissed these allegations as "false," assuring the media that Putin has no intention of making war on Ukraine.
Mentioned and criticized the lack of progress in Russia-Ukraine talks, blaming Ukrainian leaders for continuously shifting their positions. He went on to say that Moscow was dubious whether the talks would yield results.
When asked about the sixth round of EU sanctions, which representatives from all 27 member states are expected to ratify later this week, Peskov argued they were a double-edged sword and that European citizens would have to pay the consequence.
The DPR Reacts
Donetsk People's Republic accused the Ukrainian military, and the neo-Nazi Azov battalion members holed up within the industrial property of abusing the evacuation truce and changing positions during the lull in the conflict.
Meanwhile, pro-Kyiv media denied the allegations as fake, stating that the location had been bombarded with heavy artillery and bombs overnight, with Russian troops trying to force their way into the complex.
Last Tuesday, a Sputnik news agency correspondent heard loud artillery bombardment and clouds of smoke rising from the plant. These reports are confirmed by a video obtained by an RT team on the ground.
Azov-Nazis in the Azovstal plant are getting a pounding after the release of people suspected as human shields used by the regiment to stop Russian forces, but they used the lull to more to other positions.
