Ukraine is entering a “long” phase of war, defense minister says

Ukrainian officers say that the besieged troopers on the Azovstal metal plant have once more come beneath Russian bombardment.

Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to Mariupol’s mayor, stated that plane had dropped heavy bombs on the plant, “as a result of very highly effective explosions are being heard. Folks additionally noticed pillars of smoke. 

“So far as I perceive, after the bombing is over, the Russians might attempt to begin floor assaults,” he stated.

“The territory of the plant is big, they [the Russians] are attempting to interrupt via the ability, acquire a foothold and discover entrances and exits to the underground areas — the place the sphere hospital is, the place our defenders are,” Andriushcheko stated.

Up to now their efforts to penetrate the plant had not been very profitable. “And that is what provokes the brand new shelling, the brand new artillery cowl for these floor operations,” Andriushchenko stated.

He additionally stated that extra folks had been returning to Mariupol as a result of the Russians weren’t permitting them into Ukrainian-held territory.

“Individuals are returning as a result of precise closure of all inexperienced corridors by the Russian Federation. Individuals who have settled in Mariupol district, Nikolske district, Berdiansk district, who can not get to Zaporizhzhia, are compelled to maneuver again to the town, to their houses. On the identical time we haven’t seen a rise in meals provides,” he stated.

The Worldwide Crimson Cross is discussing with Russian officers the destiny of these badly wounded and nonetheless trapped at Azovstal, in keeping with Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukraine’s deputy Prime Minister.

“Now we have began a brand new spherical of negotiations across the highway map of the particular operation. Let’s begin with the severely wounded,” she stated.

“We would like a doc to be signed: how precisely the evacuation from Azovstal will happen, we’re making ready to signal it.”

Vereshchuk stated Turkey has agreed to behave as a mediator within the present spherical of talks.