Ukrainian army says Russian forces are trying to invade Mariupol steel plant | Ukraine and Russia

Armed Forces Command Ukraine She wrote on Facebook that the Russians were shooting and carrying out “offensive operations” in the Azovstal region, as well as air raids on civilian infrastructure.

Serhii Volina, commander of the 36th Marines Brigade Ukraine In Mariupol, in an interview with an opposition lawmaker that was shown on YouTube last Sunday, that Russia The compound was bombarded with aerial bombardment and artillery.

• Surrounded by Russians, an underground factory in Mariupol houses more than 1,000 fortified civilians
• Discover the steelworks of Azovstal, the last point of resistance in Mariupol

Konstantin Ivashenko, the official who was appointed mayor of Mariupol by Russiabut was never recognized as such before UkraineHe denied the occurrence of any clashes in the city, in statements published by the Russian news agency TASS on Sunday.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the Ukrainian or Russian allegations.

The Azovstal steel plant is Ukraine’s main remaining stronghold in Mariupol, a city that has been under constant bombardment since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24.

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Aristovich wrote on Facebook that “Russian forces are trying to eliminate the defenders of Azovstal and more than 1,000 civilians hiding in the plant.”