Putin tells defense minister on TV to seal off but not storm last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol

Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, Ukraine
(Image credit: Leon Klein/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered his defense minister to block off the sprawling Azovstal Steel and Iron Works in Mariupol, the last holdout of Ukrainian forces in the besieged city, "so that not even a fly comes through." But he also told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in a televised event, not to storm the steel plant. "There is no need to climb into these catacombs and crawl underground through these industrial facilities," Putin said, expressing concern about "preserving the life and health of our soldiers and officers."

Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade and Azov Brigade joined forces last week and are holed up in the four-square-mile steel plant. Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said Thursday that "about 1,000 civilians and 500 wounded servicemen" are in Azovstal, and she urged the Russians to allow them to evacuate through a safety corridor.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.