Azovstal steel plant; Situation is “close to a catastrophe”

Yuriy Ryzhenkov, the CEO of Metinvest Holding, the company owning the Azovstal plant told on Thursday that the situation at the plant in Mariupol is “close to a catastrophe.”

He told that there were stocks of food and water in the bomb shelters. It had facilities for some period of time.

Civilians were able to use them. Yet, unfortunately, they have run out of basic necessities.

He thinks that it is the beginning of a catastrophe there.

Ryzhenkov said that there were supplies for two to three weeks, but it has been eight weeks into the blockade.

The CEO stated that a hotline had been established up for any Azovstal steel mill employees in Mariupol.

Roughly 4,500 people had been contacted so far, leaving around 6,000 people unaccounted for.

He said, “Hopefully they are still alive, hopefully they are ok and hopefully they will get out and we will be able to provide them with all the necessary comfort.”

The country will not work under Russian occupation.

He added, “Our enterprises will not be working under Russian occupation. We will not be controlling this work we will not be providing this work. Of course Russians can try to restart the plants, but let’s see if they can manage that, I doubt very much.”