The deputy commander of the National Guard Regiment Azov Svyatoslav Palamar (Kalyna) called on politicians to strengthen the efforts of the ceasefire and the evacuation of Azovstal.
Palamar and an intelligence officer took part in a press conference from the blocked Azovstal plant in Mariupol, reports Lb.ua.
In recent days, there has been an evacuation of civilians from Azovstal, but Azov cannot confirm that everyone has been evacuated.
“Since not a single international organization or governmental agency, not a single Ukrainian politician came to Azovstal, there is no special equipment to remove the rubble. And it's a pity that all this is accompanied by the words “we have done everything” and “the order is executed”,” Palamar noted.
According to the military, the enemy conducts constant shelling. Last night alone, fighters counted about 25 sorties, including three strategic bombers. Barrel artillery, tanks, mortars and snipers are operating, and infantry is trying to go in for an assault.
Palamar-“Kalyna” recalled that two days ago, during the so-called “silence regime”, three Ukrainian soldiers were killed and six more were injured.
“It is extremely painful that a statement was heard from some politicians during the negotiations that you guys are minding your own business and stalling for time to get all the civilians out. This was said to our commander, the Hero of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko. This man commands the garrison and commands the defense of Mariupol. “Our business” is exactly what it means to protect the people of Ukraine and to protect civilians. There are many dead civilians as well as military personnel on the territory of the plant. In Mariupol, tens of thousands of citizens who died as a result of the aggression of Russian troops and their mercenaries have not been evacuated,” Palamar said.
Palamar thanked those who arranged for the evacuation of civilians but stressed that many more injured people remain at Azovstal.
“We are waiting for drastic action on a real ceasefire. We still have a lot of injured servicemen for whom we are screaming for help. They need to be evacuated first. “We thank everyone, but we don't thank the military,” is what politicians are saying,” Palamar stated.
Also, the defenders of Mariupol stated that they eliminated more than 2,500 russian occupants and injured about 5,000.
According to ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova, the human casualties in Mariupol could be much higher than 20,000 dead.