Despite Russia’s ultimatum, the Ukrainian military will continue to defend Mariupol, municipal officials stated on Sunday.
An adviser to Mariupol’s mayor has reacted to the Russian Ministry of Defense’s demand that Ukrainian soldiers still battling in parts of the city surrender, stating Ukrainian forces will continue to fight.
“In the (Saturday) evening, the occupiers announced they would provide ‘a surrender corridor’ for the remaining troops,” Petro Andriushchenko said on Telegram.
“But as of today, our defenders continue to hold the defense,” he said.
Mariupol, a vital port on the Sea of Azov, is at the heart of Russia’s drive to connect its forces in Ukraine’s east and south.
Andriushchenko also stated that Russian opposition extended beyond the Azovstal steel complex, a massive facility that has served as a stronghold for Ukrainian forces battling in Mariupol.
“Despite the occupiers’ desire to show that the place of hostilities is limited to the Azovstal steel plant, this does not correspond with reality,” he said. “Last night there were fights on the Taganrog Street that is located five kilometers away from Azovstal.”
He said that “during the fighting, the occupiers shelled private residential houses with heavy artillery again. The shelling of the port area also continued.”
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