Azovstal, the “last fortress” of Mariupol – Many civilians have taken refuge in the factory

The last fortress of Mariupol is considered to be the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol, the Ukrainian city besieged by Russian forces. In addition to Ukrainian soldiers, there are many civilians inside the factory, according to local authorities.

Residents of Mariupol are hiding in the factory to escape the Russian bombing, explained Mikhail Versinin, a city police officer, speaking on Sunday on a local television station.

“They do not trust the Russians. “They see what is happening in the city and for this reason they remain in the factory area,” he added.

According to Versinin, about 100,000 people remain in Mariupol, which before the war had a population of about 400,000.

Several thousand Ukrainian fighters are believed to be in Azovstal, which also has underground facilities, according to the German news agency and the Athens News Agency.

Large areas of Mariupol are now controlled by the Russian army.

Explosions in the regions of Kiev, Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk

Meanwhile, authorities in the western and southern regions of Lviv and Dnipropetrovsk reported several explosions today, while a Reuters reporter heard a series of explosions in Kyiv as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continued.

According to the media Suspilne, two people were injured in the attacks in Dnipropetrovsk. Lviv Mayor Andriy Santovi also said that five rockets hit the city. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

In the Kyiv, a Reuters reporter heard a series of explosions on the left bank of the Dnieper. Local authorities have not yet provided official information on the causes of these explosions on the river bank.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and described its action as a “special military operation” to demilitarize and “de-Nazify” Ukraine. The West and Kyiv accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of an unprovoked attack.