President Putin ordered Russian troops to besiege the last Ukrainian military holdout in Mariupol.
The Azovstal steel plant has an underground tunnel network and is home to Ukrainian civilians and soldiers.
This is the case when we have to think, that is, we always have to think, and in this case even more so, about preserving the lives and health of our soldiers and officers.
There is no need to crawl through these industrial facilities.
Putin said that Russian forces should blockade the plant so that no fly comes through.
Sergei Shoigu said during a meeting with Putin that the city of Mariupol had been liberated.
On Thursday, Putin said that Russia had taken the city. The claim has not been made by any country.
The Mariupol city council said there are at least 1,000 people in the plant. The civilians in the plant were mostly women with children and elderly.
A Mariupol police official told CNN that there was a shortage of food and water.
The Associated Press reported that Russia started dropping bombs on the plant to target underground and well-fortified areas.
Mariupol is the largest trading port on the Sea of Azov.
Aid groups have struggled to evacuate civilians due to Russia's reluctance to observe humanitarian corridors.
The commander of the 36th Separate Marine brigade urged other countries to help evacuate people from the plant.
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