This is the moment Russian troops bomb the Azovstal plant to “suppress” Ukrainian soldiers who resumed fighting after civilians were allowed to evacuate.
The video was filmed at the Azovstal iron and steelworks plant in the city of Mariupol.
Russian troops stormed the plant on April 19th and destroyed large areas, however, pockets of organized resistance fighters remain at the plant, refusing to surrender to the Russian demands.
Members of the Azov Battalion, a unit of the National Guard of Ukraine in Mariupol, are said to be based in the plant.
The footage was shared by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on 4th May.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian fighters based in the plant resumed fighting after civilians were allowed to leave.
The DPR claimed the “militants” took up firing positions straight after the civilians left the plant and opened fire on Russian troops and DPR fighters.
The footage shows Ukrainian soldiers moving around the plant in tanks and armored vehicles before Russian bombs rain down, sending large plumes of smoke into the sky.
The DPR said they used aerial bombs and artillery ammunition to “suppress enemy activity at Azovstal”.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin called a “special military operation”. Today marks the 70th day of the campaign.
From 24th February to 4th May, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 24,500 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,077 battle tanks, 2,610 combat armored vehicles, 491 artillery systems, 163 MLR systems, 81 anti-aircraft systems, 194 warplanes, 155 helicopters, 1,867 vehicles, 10 vessels, 76 fuel tank trucks, 303 operational-tactical level UAVs, 38 units of special equipment, and 87 cruise missiles have been shot down.
Meanwhile, a host of international organizations have banned Russia, already hit by economic sanctions, from taking part in sporting and cultural events, such as this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar, in response to the country’s invasion.
