What is Mariupol’s Azovstal plant?

Azovstal is an iron and steel plant. It is a massive compound resting on a four square miles in the southeastern corner of the port city, Mariupol.

Mariupol’s fate lies in the plant.

Ukraine continues to resist the attacks, and the forces have consolidated around the factory, taking safety measures to protect the plant.

However, a Ukrainian commander calls the situation “critical.”

According to Major Serhii Volyna, a commander from Ukraine’s 36th Separate Marine Brigade, the steel plant is surrounded entirely.

“There are about 500 wounded military, it is very difficult to provide them with medical care. They literally rot,” he told.

Adding, “There are civilians on the territory. They are also suffering from explosions, blasts on them, next to them. They [the Russians] use heavy aircraft bombs against us and strike with artillery.”

Mariupol officer told that hundreds of civilians are sheltering in the basement, while the food and water supplies are lacking.

A video shows dozens of families sheltering there for weeks. It has been shared by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After doing some research, CNN has verified the authentication of the video.

Volyna asked other countries for assistance in providing the evacuation route, linking by boat or helicopter.

They want to help the troops and civilians.

President Zelensky tells that Russian forces are blocking evacuation routes from Mariupol.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Security Service published a reported communications intercept of a Russian ground unit commander.

He claimed that Russian planes were aiming to “level everything to the ground” near the facility.