Ukraine forces accuse Russia of firing during Azovstal evacuation

Ukraine’s Azov battalion, which is leading Kyiv’s defense of the Azovstal complex in Mariupol, accused Russian forces of firing during a civilian evacuation of the massive steelworks Despite a Moscow-imposed truce,  on Friday.

“During the ceasefire at the Azovstal plant, a car was hit by Russians who used an anti-tank guided weapon,” the Azov battalion said on Telegram, saying the vehicle was “moving towards civilians to evacuate them” at the time.

The strike has killed one Ukrainian fighter and injured six others, it added.

The Russian army had said it would impose a three-day ceasefire from Thursday to allow civilians to leave the plant, but Ukrainian fighters said “assault operations” continued against Azovstal.

Kyiv had earlier said evacuations of civilians from the steelworks would continue on Friday after almost 500 people from both Azovstal and the port city of Mariupol were taken to safety in UN-led rescue operations.

The takeover of Azovstal would give Moscow complete control of Mariupol, a strategically important port on the Azov Sea that has been devastated since the Russian assault began on February 24.