What is behind Putin’s order for the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol? The video of the dialogue between Russian President and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was just surprised by the Kremlin when the army announced the latest attack on the factory that has been under siege for days, is staged to hide a failure or the beginning of a new phase to demonstrate the war in Ukraine? “This is a case where we have to think about it – we always have to do it, but more so in this case – to save the lives of our soldiers and our officers. There is no need to go down into these catacombs and crawl underground through these industrial structures,” the tsar said.
Pragmatism or Propaganda?
A choice of pragmatism that intersects with the more than symbolic meaning of Azovstal: with the completion of the capture of Mariupol, Russian forces will open a territorial corridor connecting Crimea and Donbass. And the conquest allows the army to return to focus its efforts only on the north in anticipation of May 9, which will be celebrated with a grand parade through the streets of the Ukrainian city. But there is also an industrial question. The factory is currently in partnership with the Adviivka metallurgical coke production plant: the fuel produced there is used to power the blast furnaces in Mariupol. Both factories are owned by Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov. And they will be used to restart the economy after the war.
But it is precisely for this reason that Putin’s line may have chosen caution. Today Gianluca Di Feo explains in Repubblica that sending the soldiers to the steelworks caused another massacre because the industrial complex is a tunnel fortress. Even the bombing wouldn’t have helped because the plant can withstand very high temperatures. The death toll for what is now just a symbol of the Ukrainian resistance would have been too high. And the new phase of the Russian campaign provides for the need to save “life and health” of Russian soldiers. This can also be understood from the fact that carpet bombs are always envisaged first, before troops are even deployed to Donbass.
Staging and failure?
In short, Putin may have decided to listen to his commanders. Perhaps due to the awareness of the difficulties of the Russian army on the territory. That might even make the Tsar consider the idea of a truce. A pause to reorganize the troops. Andrea Marinelli and Guido Olimpio in Corriere della Sera add another aspect: in addition to the fact that tunnels, tunnels, sewer networks and other pitfalls advise caution in such a situation, Kyiv has managed to send material to arm those who oppose. Using helicopters or maybe a net through the tunnels to transport supplies.
Finally, Anna Zafesova addresses another aspect in La Stampa. First of all, the journalist is convinced that the video of the dialogue with Shoigu is staged. He deduces this from the minister reading a ticket and putting on his glasses. Then he reports that according to Ukrainian sources, the Russians gave up the last attack because they would have been repelled with losses. The statements made by the Chechen leader Kadyrov should also be seen in this context. He had announced the takeover of the steel mill for the early afternoon before Putin’s turn. Finally, there is the interpretation of the message to the West and to the inside. The tsar showed himself during what can be interpreted as an act of generosity and prudence. A way to send a signal both indoors and outdoors. Will he succeed?
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