Shocking video shows what Azovstal looks like in Mariupol
After the battles at Azovstal in Mariupol in the spring of 2022, only ruins and debris remained of the plant. The Russian occupiers show no concern for the facility; instead, they are looting the remaining metal.
This was reported by the Mariupol City Council on Monday, October 14, along with a corresponding video.
What Azovstal looks like now
"The outpost of Mariupol. A place of heroic resistance of Ukrainian heroes against the Russian invasion. Traces of total shelling and massive bombardment testify to the scale of the tragedy and, at the same time, to the strength of the indomitable spirit of Ukrainian soldiers," the message under the video reads.
History of Azovstal
After February 24, 2022, a decision was made to open the plant's gates to allow civilians free access to the bomb shelters.
During the battles for Mariupol on April 19, 2022, Russian troops began to storm the plant. The Ukrainian defenders took up a circular defense of the plant, but the enterprise was almost completely destroyed by Russian air raids during the battles.
On May 4, Russian troops entered the territory of the plant. From May 1 to May 7, Ukraine and Russia, with the support of the United Nations, agreed to evacuate the civilians who were hiding in the bomb shelters of Azovstal. The occupiers did not agree to the procedure of extradition of the plant's military defenders.
On the night of May 16-17, some of the Azovstal defenders were evacuated through a humanitarian corridor to the Russian-occupied territories for further transfer to the government-controlled territory. However, the command of the Azov Regiment remained on the territory of the plant. Only on May 20, 2022, they left Azovstal and were captured by the Russian Federation.
On September 22 last year, 215 Ukrainian soldiers were released from Russian captivity. 108 of them were Azov fighters. According to the agreements, five Ukrainian commanders were held in Turkey under guarantees of protection and security.
Only in July 2023 the commanders returned to the homeland. Among them are Denys Prokopenko, Sviatoslav Palamar, Serhii Volynskyi, Oleh Khomenko and Denys Shleh.
As a reminder, border guard Denys Motychko recently shared his terrible memories of the last days of Azovstal's defense, his injury and captivity. The soldier returned to Ukraine after two and a half years in Russian captivity.