Russia is blocking the evacuation of wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal steel works in Mariupol, the local governor said.
Around 2,000 soldiers are thought to be holed up in the industrial complex – the last vestige of Ukrainian resistance in the battered city – which is under siege from Russian forces.
Regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russian forces were not allowing wounded Ukrainian troops out of the plant, nor allowing humanitarian corridors for civilians to be set up around the Donetsk region.
Earlier, Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko was quoted by the city council as saying living conditions in the city were “medieval” and “an immediate and complete evacuation is needed”.
Meanwhile, Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson accused Western counties of openly calling on Ukraine to attack Russia, adding that the West should take Moscow seriously when it says strikes on Russian territory will have consequences.
It comes as Russia reported a series of blasts in the south of the country and a fire at an ammunition depot on Wednesday.
