Russia's 'Somalia' battalion greeted with flags & flowers in Donetsk post Mariupol victory

Russia’s ‘Somalia’ battalion, separatist military unit of self-declared Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in Ukraine, was greeted with flags and flowers in Donetsk as y arrived from Mariupol. Russia claimed on Thursday that it had captured Ukrainian port city of Mariupol and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu anunced transfer of Mariupol under control of Armed Forces of Russia. 

Even Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to claim victory in strategic port of Mariupol while ordering his troops t to storm last pocket of Ukrainian resistance. Russian troops had besieged souastern city since early days of conflict and largely pulverised it — and top officials have repeatedly indicated that it was about to fall. Ukrainian soldiers holed up in sprawling Azovstal steel plant, and Russian forces pounded industrial site entering final defence phase. 

Putin said that, for w, he would t risk sending troops into warren of tunnels under giant Azovstal plant but instead will have it sealed  "so that t even a fly comes through." Putin painted mission to take Mariupol already a success and said that city had been "liberated," but militarily until plant falls, he cant declare a complete victory. Russian officials w say that capturing Donbas, Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland is war's main goal. 

UK claims Russia wants to contain resistance by blocking Azovstal plant

UK Defence Ministry has released its latest intelligence update about ongoing situation in war-torn nation. Taking to ir official Twitter handle, UK Defence Ministry stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to blockade Azovstal steel plant likely indicates a desire to contain Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol and free up Russian forces to be deployed elsewhere in eastern Ukraine. "A full ground assault by Russia on plant would likely incur significant Russian casualties, furr decreasing ir overall combat effectiveness," ministry claimed.

Im: AP