# Fighting traps civilians in Ukraine plant as Putin urges defenders to disarm
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-05-05
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Ukrainian civilians trapped in Mariupol steel works amid
Meta Description: Scores of Ukrainian civilians, including women and children, remain trapped in underground bunkers at a steel works in Mariupol, amid ongoing heavy fighting and
URL: https://financedigest.com/fighting-traps-civilians-in-ukraine-plant-as-putin-urges-defenders-to-disarmhtml

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By Alessandra Prentice and Natalia Zinets

ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (Reuters) – Scores of Ukrainian civilians including women and children remained trapped on Thursday in underground bunkers at a steel works in the ruined city of Mariupol, although President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to allow them to leave safely.

Putin told Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in a phone call that Russia was still prepared to provide safe passage for civilians from the besieged Azovstal plant, and Kyiv should order Ukrainian fighters defending it to put down their weapons.

But a Ukrainian fighter who said he was holed up in the vast complex – the last part of the [port](https://www.financedigest.com/turkey-says-five-more-grain-ships-leave-ukrainian-ports.html "Turkey says five more grain ships leave Ukrainian ports") city still in Ukrainian hands – accused Russian forces of breaching the plant’s defences for a third day in violation of an earlier pledge by Moscow to pause military activity to permit civilian evacuations.

“Heavy, bloody fighting is going on,” said Captain Sviatoslav Palamar, a deputy commander of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, in a video posted online.

“Yet again, the Russians have not kept the promise of a ceasefire and have not given an opportunity for the civilians who seek shelter … in basements of the plant to evacuate,” he said. Reuters could not independently [verify his account](https://www.financedigest.com/twitter-to-introduce-official-label-for-some-verified-accounts.html "Twitter to introduce ‘Official’ label for some verified accounts") or from where he was speaking.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych also said fighting had continued in the steel works but gave no details. Russia’s military did not immediately comment.

[Ukraine’s dogged defence of Azovstal has highlighted Russia’s failure to take major cities in a 10-week-old war that has united Western](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gold-removed-from-some-western-funds-after-ukraine.html "Analysis-Russian gold removed from some Western funds after Ukraine") powers in arming Kyiv and punishing Moscow with sanctions.

In what would be a major historic shift sure to infuriate Moscow, Sweden and [Finland may shortly decide to join NATO](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-will-join-nato-on-tuesday-stoltenberg.html "Finland will join NATO on Tuesday – Stoltenberg").

HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS

[Russia’s military promised](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-promises-to-scale-down-operations-in-northern-ukraine.html "Russia promises to scale down operations in northern Ukraine") to pause its activity in Azovstal during Thursday daytime and the following two days to allow civilians to leave, after what Ukrainian fighters described as “bloody battles” prevented evacuations on Wednesday. The Kremlin said humanitarian corridors from the plant were in place.

However, nobody from Azovstal was among more than 300 [civilians evacuated on Wednesday from Mariupol and other areas in southern Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-says-first-civilians-killed-in-lviv-fighters-cling-on-in-mariupol.html "Ukraine says first civilians killed in Lviv, fighters cling on in Mariupol"), the U.N. humanitarian office said.

Pictures released by Russian-backed fighters appeared to show smoke and flames enveloping the Soviet-era Azovstal complex. [Ukrainian officials believe around](https://www.financedigest.com/after-fleeing-war-ukrainians-struggle-to-settle-around-europe.html "After fleeing war, Ukrainians struggle to settle around Europe") 200 civilians remain trapped along with fighters in a sprawling network of underground bunkers there.

In an early morning address, Ukrainian [President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/south-korea-has-not-supplied-lethal-weapons-to-ukraine-president-says.html "South Korea has not supplied lethal weapons to Ukraine, president says") stood ready to ensure a ceasefire.

It will take time simply to lift people out of those basements, out of those [underground shelters](https://www.financedigest.com/food-of-the-future-london-air-raid-shelter-to-underground-farm.html "Food of the future: London air raid shelter to underground farm"). In the present conditions, we cannot use heavy equipment to [clear the rubble away](https://www.financedigest.com/turkey-clears-away-rubble-from-earthquake-rescue-efforts-wind-down.html "Turkey clears away rubble from earthquake, rescue efforts wind down"). It all has to be done by hand,” Zelenskiy said.

[Ukraine’s military general staff said the assault on the plant](https://www.financedigest.com/russia-seizes-ukraine-nuclear-power-plant-as-forces-lay-siege-to-cities.html "Russia seizes Ukraine nuclear power plant as forces lay siege to cities") included air support.

The chief commander of Ukraine’s armed forces said they needed multiple launch rocket systems to defend against [resumed Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-insurers-in-talks-with-reinsurers-to-resume-coverage-in-russian-waters.html "Japan insurers in talks with reinsurers to resume coverage in Russian waters") cruise missile strikes around the country. [Russia has in recent days attacked](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-says-russia-on-brink-of-ukraine-attack-after-separatist-plea-for-help.html "U.S. says Russia on brink of Ukraine attack after separatist plea for help") railways, weapons dumps and fuel depots.

The U.S. Congress is debating an aid package for Ukraine [worth $33 billion](https://www.financedigest.com/why-a-quiet-revolution-in-the-cloud-is-worth-billions.html "Why A Quiet Revolution In The Cloud Is Worth Billions"), largely for weapons. If it gets more supplies, [Ukraine could launch](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-ukraine-agree-to-launch-talks-to-upgrade-2008-trade-accord.html "U.S., Ukraine agree to launch talks to upgrade 2008 trade accord") a counter-offensive in mid-June, an adviser to Zelenskiy said.

Mariupol, a port city in southeast Ukraine on the Sea of Azov, is now under Russian control apart from the steel works, after a weeks-long siege. It has been an important target in efforts to [cut Ukraine off from its coastal grain](https://www.financedigest.com/traders-cut-ukraine-2022-combined-grain-and-oilseeds-crop-forecast.html "Traders cut Ukraine 2022 combined grain and oilseeds crop forecast") and metals export routes, as well as to link Russian-controlled territory in the east of the country to Crimea, seized by Moscow in 2014.

God forbid more shells hit near the bunkers where the civilians are,” said Tetyana Trotsak, an Azovstal evacuee among dozens who reached a Ukraine-controlled town this week, describing her two-and-a-half hour walk to get across a short stretch of [ground at the plant](https://www.financedigest.com/hyundai-breaks-ground-on-5-5-billion-u-s-ev-battery-plant.html "Hyundai breaks ground on .5 billion U.S. EV, battery plant") strewn with rubble.

NATO ENLARGEMENT?

[Sweden and Finland](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-sweden-to-send-teams-to-turkey-to-discuss-nato-bids-haavisto-says.html "Finland, Sweden to send teams to Turkey to discuss NATO bids, Haavisto says"), which shares a 1,300-km (820 mile) border with Russia, stayed out of NATO during the Cold War, but Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted them to rethink their security needs.

Putin [embarked on the war partly to counter the expansion](https://www.financedigest.com/4-questions-to-consider-before-embarking-on-a-contract-packaging-expansion.html "4 questions to consider before embarking on a contract packaging expansion") of the NATO alliance.

Sweeping sanctions from Washington and European allies have hobbled Russia’s $1.8 trillion economy, while [billions of dollars worth of military aid has helped Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/g7-offers-9-5-billion-new-aid-for-ukraine-ready-with-more.html "G7 offers .5 billion new aid for Ukraine, ready with more") frustrate the invasion.

The United States has provided details on the location of Russia’s mobile military headquarters, allowing [Ukrainian forces to strike those targets and kill Russian](https://www.financedigest.com/ukrainian-volunteers-recount-three-weeks-in-russian-captivity-allege-beatings.html "Ukrainian volunteers recount three weeks in Russian captivity, allege beatings") generals, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing senior U.S. officials.

In response, Russia said such intelligence sharing would not thwart its goals. The Pentagon and the White House did not respond to [Reuters requests for comment on the report](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-report-reveals-risk-compliance-staff-expect-to-see-significant-benefits-from-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-distributed-ledger-technologies.html "Thomson Reuters Report Reveals Risk & Compliance Staff Expect to See Significant Benefits from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technologies").

EU envoys are working to reach a deal this week on phasing out imports of Russian crude [oil within six months and refined products by the end](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-set-to-end-turbulent-2022-modestly-higher.html "Oil set to end turbulent 2022 modestly higher") of this year. It requires agreement by all 27 EU governments.

The Kremlin said [Russia was weighing responses to the plan](https://www.financedigest.com/ecb-unicredit-clash-over-capital-plans-russia-presence-ft-says.html "ECB, UniCredit clash over capital plans, Russia presence, FT says").

BATTLES

Ukraine and Russia said fighting had been heavy across the [south and east](https://www.financedigest.com/pimp-my-ride-south-east-drivers-most-likely-to-modify-their-cars.html "Pimp my ride! South East drivers most likely to modify their cars") over the past day.

Ukrainian authorities [reported shelling of towns near a frontline that divides territory it holds in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions](https://www.financedigest.com/extruded-soy-products-market-overview-analysis-by-source-type-product-regional-outlook-industry-analysis-report-and-forecast-2022-2029.html "Extruded Soy Products Market Overview & Analysis by Source, Type, Product, Regional Outlook, Industry Analysis Report and Forecast, 2022 – 2029") from land held by Russian-backed separatists.

The Ukrainian air force said it had downed three [Russian cruise missiles](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-missiles-hit-30-of-ukraines-energy-infrastructure-in-two-days-minister.html "Russian missiles hit 30% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in two days – minister") and four aircraft, including two Sukhoi fighter jets, while Russia said it had killed 600 Ukrainian soldiers overnight. [Reuters could not independently either report](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-announces-suite-of-reference-data-capabilities-to-help-financial-industry-meet-mifid-ii-transparency-and-reporting-requirements.html "Thomson Reuters Announces Suite of Reference Data Capabilities to Help Financial Industry Meet MiFID II Transparency and Reporting Requirements").

Russia [calls its actions a “special military operation” to disarm Ukraine and protect](https://www.financedigest.com/emergency-call-services-telcos-urge-eu-to-protect-telecoms-networks-from-power-cuts.html "Emergency call services, telcos urge EU to protect telecoms networks from power cuts") it from fascists. [Ukraine and the West say the fascist allegation is baseless and that the war](https://www.financedigest.com/euro-zone-economy-sentiment-rises-in-dec-first-time-since-start-of-ukraine-war.html "Euro zone economy sentiment rises in Dec, first time since start of Ukraine war") is an unprovoked act of aggression.

More than 5 million Ukrainians have fled abroad since the start of the invasion.

(This story refiles to reinstate dropped word ‘works’ in para 1)

(Reporting by Alessandra Prentice in Zaporizhzhia and Natalia Zinets in Kyiv; Additional reporting by Emma Farge in Geneva and Reuters bureaus; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Gareth Jones and Alexandra Hudson)


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