Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu on “the successful operation in Mariupol”.
He said the attack on the industrial estate of the steel company Azovstal near the city is being stopped. According to Putin, there is no need to continue the offensive there.
The industrial area, where a few thousand Ukrainian fighters may still offer resistance, will be completely closed off, according to Putin. Shoigu had announced that the city was in Russian hands, but the large complex of the Azovstaal company still wasn’t.
According to the Kremlin, fighters who leave the complex and surrender will be treated with respect. The encircled steel company has been the subject of fierce fighting for some time.
It is not clear whether the sudden cessation of the attack on the industrial estate has to do with Orthodox Easter, which is Thursday through Sunday.