If there was at least one opportunity of unblocking Mariupol by military means, it would be used by the leadership of the Armed Forces. Mykhailo Podolyak, the Adviser to the Нead of the President's Office, commented on the press conference of Azov fighters.
"Today, the Armed Forces are working hard to make this opportunity in the foreseeable future. But the issue of military measures and plans is definitely not the subject of public discussion," said a representative of the President's Office.
He notes that he understands the emotional state of the fighters, because the russians have no safeguards when it comes to “Azovstal”, but every conversation the President has with foreign leaders and international organizations begins and ends with the word “Azovstal”.
"We calculate all possible formulas and formats, and if there is no such format in the history of international law, we offer new ones," Podolyak said.
According to him, every hot spot in Ukraine where resistance to russian troops continues is in the focus of the President's Office. And communication about it happens every day.
The Azov fighters who are defending the “Azovstal” plant are the heroes of today. I talk about it without pathos and without hesitation, we had very frank conversations with the guys. Personally, I have, including. Not everything, of course, can be made public. Currently we are in constant communication,” Podolyak says.
He also reminded that with the mediation of the UN, the President's Office managed to organize the evacuation of civilians - women, children, the elderly, who were on "Azovstal". And this would have been impossible without the help of the guys from Azov. Some of them paid for it with their lives.
"The life of every Ukrainian defender is sacred to the Ukrainian State – it’s an axiom for us. Defenders of “Azovstal” - guys from Azov, police, border service, military - have become a living symbol of Ukraine. We are doing everything to save them," said the Adviser to the Head of the Presidential Office.
He suggested focusing the energy of society not on appealing to the military-political leadership inside the country - "because we are focused on finding solutions", but on the societies of Western countries, world leaders and international organizations.
“So that they also put pressure on the russian side. Especially those who have had excellent business and lobbying relationships with them for years. Stand by us. Become intermediaries. Prove to the russians that reputation and humanism matter,” Podolyak summed up.
During a press conference today, Azov fighters called on politicians to intensify efforts to cease fire and evacuate “Azovstal”.