By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, ordered his troops not to storm the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the besieged city of Mariupol, but block it “so that not even a fly comes through.”
The Kremlin leader gave the order to Russian Defence Minister, Sergei Shoigu, during a broadcast on state television, on Thursday. He described the effort of Russian forces to capture Mariupol as a success.
“Completing the military task of liberating Mariupol is a great achievement, I congratulate you.
“We must think about preserving the life and health of our soldiers and officers.
“There is no need to climb into these catacombs and crawl underground through these industrial facilities. Block off this industrial area so a fly cannot get through,” he said.
According to reports, Ukrainian forces were still in charge of the Azovstal plant in the South Eastern port city, which Shoigu said would take his troops three or four days to take over.
Shoigu had also said that the rest of Mariupol, beyond the sprawling Azovstal steel plant, where Ukrainian forces were holding had been taken over.
