Vladimir Putin Declares Victory in Mariupol

MOSCOW – President Russia Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the battle in Mariupol on Thursday (21/4/2022). He even ordered his troops not to risk more losses by storming the giant steel mill that contained the last pocket of resistance Ukraine in that city.

Instead, he directed his troops to shut down the Azovstal factory “so that no flies could enter.”

Russian troops have been bombarding the southeastern Ukrainian port city since the early days of the conflict and have largely reduced it to ruins. Top officials have repeatedly claimed the city would fall, but Ukrainian troops stubbornly chose to stay.

In recent weeks, several thousand fighters, according to Russian estimates, have been hiding in a vast maze of tunnels and bunkers at the steelworks, as Russian forces pounded the site and repeatedly issued ultimatums ordering them to surrender.

But on Thursday, as he has done before, Putin appeared to change the narrative and declare victory without having to seize the steel mill.

“The completion of the combat work to liberate Mariupol has been a success,” he said in an appearance with his defense minister.

“Congratulations,” he added as quoted from The Associated Press.

Read also: Ukrainian troops in Mariupol refuse to surrender, but ask for security guarantees

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