Russia on Tuesday ordered Ukrainian forces and foreign fighters holed up at the Azovstal smelter in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol to lay down their arms by noon Moscow time (0900 GMT) if they wished to survive.
Mariupol, which has been encircled by Russian troops for weeks, has seen the fiercest fighting and most widespread destruction since Russia deployed troops to Ukraine on February 24.
Ukrainian authorities said on Monday that as many as 1,000 civilians were hiding in underground shelters under the huge Azovstal plant, adding that Russia would drop heavy bombs on the Ukrainian-controlled factory in the besieged city.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday issued a statement calling on Ukrainian forces and foreign fighters inside to surrender.
“Anyone who lays down their arms is guaranteed to live,” the Department of Defense said.
Ukrainian Armed Forces are currently stationed at the Azovstal plant in Mariupol.EPA
Pro-Russian troops load rocket-propelled grenades into an infantry fighting vehicle in Mariupol.REUTERS
Smoke rises from the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works. REUTERS
She ordered the troops to withdraw from the steelworks “without exception, without weapons and without ammunition” between 1400 and 1600 Moscow time.
Earlier Tuesday, Russian-backed separatists said they were trying to storm the Azovstal Steel Plant and seize control of it as quickly as possible.