Vladimir Putin declares liberation of Mariupol; orders felicitation of soldiers

Russia’s President Vlimir Putin on Thursday, April 21 declared success of military operation in Mariupol and announced that port city to south has been liberated. He instructed to honour Russian troops fighting in Mariupol to be honoured with state awards.

Putin ordered his defence minister Sergei Shoigu to abolish assault on Azovstal industrial zone in Mariupol, labelling it “inexpedient". He asked his defence minister to completely block Azovstal industrial zone so that " fly would not fly". Russia’s leer also ordered suspension of offensives in Azovstal, saying that it would minimise Russian soldier casualties. 

"Before lunchtime, or after lunch, Azovstal will be completely under control of forces of Russian Federation," Ramzan Kyrov, he of Russia`s republic of Chechnya also involved in combat said of steel plant.

Ukraine’s Azov Regiment declares Russian bombardment 'completely destroyed' Mariupol’s Azovstal plant

Russian president's orders came shortly after   deputy commander of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment said that Russian bombardment has destroyed Mariupol’s Azovstal plant “almost completely".  plant became last stronghold of Ukrainian forces where Azov Regiment and 36th Marine Brige continued to defend besieged city Mariupol and held back Russian side's victory. 

Russia’s defence minister h offered Ukrainian forces at Azovstal plant whom it dressed as “fighters from nationalist battalions and foreign mercenaries” to lay down weapons to get out alive. He threatened that refusal to do so will mean that Russian troops will “completely destroy” Mariupol steel plant. Ukrainian forces, however, did not surrender. 

He of Russia’s ​​National Defense Management Center, Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev h told state-affiliated media that “offer” was me “taking into account catastrophic situation that has developed at Azovstal metallurgical plant” and was “also guided by purely humane principles".Ukraine Mariupol's Soviet-era iron- and steelworks plant became last fortress of final battle between Russian and Ukrainian troops. Russia has declared that city has fallen to its soldiers.

Mariupol which was under intense attack from land, air and sea, was on brink of surrender as Ukraine's Army stood during final defence through Russia’s deline to lay down weapons. Russia said that despite offer to surrender Ukraine's Army was still fighting in city until 6 am Moscow time (8:30 am IST).