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The large Russian/DPR mop up operation in Mariupol against the armed formations of Ukrainian nationalists continues. The advance is slowed by fierce street fighting.
On April 1, representative of the DPR People’s Militia Eduard Basurin confirmed that the AFU grouping deployed in the city of Mariupol was cut into three small parts. Mop-up operations continue in the Kalmius and Left Bank districts of the city.
There are three main centers of resistance left in Mariupol: the central district, the Azovstal plant and the Mariupol port located in the Primorsky district.
The main stronghold of Ukrainian nationalist forces are the large industrial facilities of the Azovstal plant. Most of the Azov nationalists are currently besieged in a heavily fortified industrial zone. On the territory of the Azovstal, members of the Azov regiment deployed military headquarters, warehouses and barracks.
Azov commanders likely hope that Russian military would not massively strike the Azovstal with large-kaliber missiles in order not to completely destroy the facility. In the case of a major assault of the DPR troops supported by Russian servicemen, a bloody fighting may continue until all the nationalists are destroyed.
Meanwhile, Russian Kalibr missiles already hit the facility.
Chechen forces are also deployed near the Azovstal, preparing for the assault.
The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, gave the remnants of the Azov regiment who a day to lay down their arms. He published a video, appealing to the Ukrainian militants:
“I suggested that they soberly assess their remaining resources and give up. You can give up today. If this does not happen, tomorrow, April 2, all the militants will be destroyed.”
Sea mines are laying on the streets in Mariupol
According to the head of the National Center of the Russian Defense Directorate, Colonel-General Mikhail Mezentsev, the evacuation of civilians from Mariupol to the Zaporozhye region was viciously and cynically disrupted by the Ukrainian military. On March 31, the Russian Armed Forces declared a ceasefire regime in order to open an additional humanitarian corridor for civilians from Mariupol to Zaporozhye.
567 people were evacuated during the day from Mariupol to the refugee reception point Bezymennoye in the DPR today, the headquarters of the territorial defense of the DPR reported on April 1.
