The shelling of the Azovstal metallurgical plant in Mariupol. Archival photo MARIUPOL, May 5. In the underground premises of Azovstal, militants can hold more than 200 civilians, a representative of the headquarters of the operation to liberate the enterprise told RIA Novosti. «Despite the success of the operation implemented on May 1 with the support of the UN Secretary General initiatives of the President of Russia to rescue from the territory of «Azovstal» more than a hundred civilians held by the nationalists, the situation there continues to be difficult. <…> more than 200 civilians, including women, children and the elderly,» the source said. Russia has been conducting a military operation in Ukraine since February 24. Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to harassment and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» According to the Ministry of Defense, the Russian armed forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops. The army has already completed the main task of the first stage — it significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal of the operation in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
