Ukraine's Mariupol captured, says Russia; Vladimir Putin hails 'successful liberation of city'
Zee News
President Putin has called the plan of storming the Azovstal plant "inadvisable" and ordered to "safely block" the area instead while extending to those inside another offer to lay down their arms, the RT report said.
Moscow: Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu has informed President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that the country`s forces have fully captured Ukraine`s key Black Sea port city of Mariupol, the media reported.
However, more than 2,000 Ukrainians fighters still remain entrenched at the Azovstal steel plant in the city, RT News reported citing Shoigu as saying.
When Mariupol was encircled in early March, some 8,100 Ukrainian soldiers, and foreign mercenaries remained inside, according to the Minister`s estimates.
More than 1,400 militants have laid down their arms, Shoigu said, adding that over 142,000 civilians have also been evacuated from the city that has been under siege for weeks.
President Putin has called Shoigu`s plan of storming the Azovstal plant "inadvisable" and ordered to "safely block" the area instead while extending to those inside another offer to lay down their arms, the RT report said.
