Russia "violated" a promised truce at Mariupol's steelworks, where Ukrainian forces are making a last stand in the city, a Ukrainian commander said Thursday, pleading for help for "dying" soldiers and the evacuation of civilians.
"The Russians violated the promise of a truce and did not allow the evacuation of civilians who continue to hide from shelling in the basement of the plant," Svyatoslav Palamar, a commander of the Azov regiment, said in a video on Telegram.
The Russian army had on Wednesday announced a three-day ceasefire at the Azovstal plant, saying it would allow civilians to leave, with the Kremlin claiming earlier on Thursday that humanitarian corridors were "functioning."
Svyatoslav Palamar said Russian soldiers broke into the plant "three days ago" triggering intense clashes, and that "heavy bloody fighting continues."
Wounded Ukrainian soldiers holed up in the plant were "dying in agony from inadequate treatment", he said, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "take care" of them and to find a way to remove the bodies of soldiers who had died.
He also called on the "world community" to help evacuate civilians from the plant.
On Wednesday evening, Mr Zelensky asked United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for help to "save" wounded Ukrainian soldiers at the Azovstal plant.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Russia, Ukraine Exchange 95 Prisoners Of War Record Heat Temperatures In Ukraine After Russian Attacks On Power Plants 10 Years On, 298 Victims Of MH17 Disaster Still Await Justice Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Trainee IAS Summoned By Pune Cops Over Harassment Claims Against Collector Three Indians On Global Student Prize 2024 Top 50 shortlist Prime Accused In INDIA's Bihar Ally's Brutal Murder Arrested 13 Kg Gold, Electronic Items Worth Rs 10.33 Crore Seized At Mumbai Airport Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.