Russian shelling of Mariupol’s Azovstal steel plant continues
Kyiv, Apr 27 (EFE).- The Russian military was still shelling the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where 1,000 civilians as well as 500 soldiers are sheltering, Ukrainian authorities said Wednesday.
The attacks are also affecting urban areas around the plant, causing several fires, said Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the city’s mayor, according to the official Ukrinform news agency.
“Airstrikes on Azovstal do not subside. No silence, but attempts at the assault (of the premises) repeat again and again, despite all declarations” by Russia to establish a ceasefire in the area, he said.
The port city has been besieged by Russian forces since the invasion began on 24 February.
Russian troops are in control of the entire city – which has been almost entirely devastated – except for the Azovstal plant.
Mayor Vadym Boychenko has called for EU financial aid to help rebuild the city.
“The victory of Ukraine, which will be guaranteed, will unfortunately not be the end of the history of resistance,” he said in a virtual speech to the European Committee of the Regions. “The next stage is the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities, which have been reduced to ashes by Russian missiles.”
“After our victory, the support of European countries will be essential for us. We beseech you, we turn to the entire European community to unite, in the name of peace and development, in the name of the reconstruction of Ukraine and, in my case, for the good of Mariupol,” he continued. EFE
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