Enlarge image
Hard fighting: column of smoke at the Azowstal plant
Photo: ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO / REUTERS
In a dramatic appeal from the steelworks in Mariupol, which was surrounded by Russian troops, the Ukrainian Azov regiment called on the government in Kyiv for help and criticized it in clear terms.
"I call on the military-political leadership to take decisive steps to break the blockade or to evacuate everyone who hopes and believes in their fatherland," Deputy Commander Svyatoslav Palamar said in a video message released on Thursday.
Palamar said fighters are increasingly wondering why Kyiv is not keeping promises.
"Who can answer that: Why are we alone against artillery, ships and planes?"
In addition to numerous fighters, there are said to be around 1,000 civilians in the bunkers of the plant.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin had ordered the site sealed off.
Russia accuses the nationalist-dominated Azov regiment of war crimes.
Moscow has not yet presented any evidence.
According to information from Moscow, the rest of the badly damaged southeastern Ukrainian port of Mariupol is under Russian control after weeks of fighting.
Alleged attacks with phosphorus bombs
Azov deputy commander Palamar reported new violent attacks.
He claimed that Russia dropped "a colossal amount of phosphorus bombs."
The information could not be verified.
However, the Azov regiment's Telegram channel posted images claiming to prove attacks with such a device.
Such incendiary bombs are ignited by contact with oxygen and cause devastating damage.
Their use is largely forbidden.
Azov estimates that Russia has lost $162 million worth of military hardware in Mariupol alone since the war of aggression began on February 24.
Munitions and the use of fighter jets would have cost an additional $288 million, Palamar said.
With that money, Russia could have built schools and clinics and given retirees a comfortable life.
But the Kremlin decided to spend it on the destruction of Mariupol, Palamar said.
He did not explain how the totals were calculated.
col/dpa
