On Thursday, Yuriy Ryzhenkov, the CEO of Metinvest Holding, the firm that controls the facility, warned reporters that the situation at the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol is “near to a disaster.”

“When the war started, we had quite a decent store of food and water in the bomb shelters and the plant’s facilities, so the people were able to use it and basically subsist on it for a period of time.” Unfortunately, everything, especially food and everyday basics, seems to run out. “I believe it’s on the verge of becoming a disaster,” Ryzhenkov told Julia Chatterley.

The supplies were supposed to last two to three weeks, according to Ryzhenkov, but the embargo had already lasted over eight weeks. Those who remained “weren’t giving up,” he continued.

The CEO stated that a hotline had been established up for any Azovstal steel mill employees in Mariupol, and that roughly 4,500 people had been contacted so far, leaving around 6,000 people unaccounted for.

“Hopefully they are still alive, okay, and will be able to come out and we will be able to offer them with all of the required comfort,” he added.

The corporation has said that the plant would not operate under Russian occupation, according to Ryzhenkov. “Under Russian takeover, our businesses will not operate.” We will not be in charge of this task, and we will not be doing it. Of course, the Russians can try to restart the plants, but let’s see whether they can, which I seriously doubt,” he remarked.