Russia’s occupation of the Azovstal steel factory, according to Oleksiy Arestovych, Ukraine’s presidential advisor, is an attempt to give Vladimir Putin a “gift” ahead of the May 9 holiday, but the attacks are being greeted with significant resistance by Ukrainian troops.
“In Mariupol, they’re getting ready to declare victory. During a national telethon, Arestovych declared, “I don’t think they’ll succeed.”
Russian forces in the steel plant “were knocked out by Ukrainian defenders,” according to Arestovych. Many of the last Ukrainian residents and military are trapped inside the Azovstal steel complex, where heavy fighting is continuing.
