Kyiv said more than 1,000 Ukrainian forces remained at the massive Azovstal steelworks in the Russian-controlled coastal city of Mariupol on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told AFP that “more than a thousand” Ukrainian military remain in the plant.

“Hundreds are injured. There are people with serious injuries who require urgent evacuation. The situation is deteriorating every day.”

The Azovstal steelworks are the final bastion of Ukrainian resistance in the damaged southern port city, and their fate has taken on symbolic significance in the wider conflict since Russia’s invasion.

Vereshchuk stated over the weekend that all women, children, and the elderly had been evacuated from Azovstal as part of a humanitarian mission organised by the UN and the Red Cross.

She denied claims made by two local officials that around 100 civilians remained in the network of Soviet-era tunnels beneath the plant in comments to AFP on Tuesday.

According to her, Ukraine is urging all international organisations to put pressure on Russia to facilitate the evacuation of badly injured soldiers, medical professionals, and other “non-combatants” in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

Vereshchuk also stated that “Turkey is ready” to assist with maritime evacuations from Azovstal, which she estimates will take around a week due to the large number of personnel still within the plant.

She stated, “There must be agreements and guarantees that Russia does not start shooting.”

“We need iron-clad guarantees in writing. That’s what we’re working to get now.”

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