Mariupol steel plant pounded by tanks and artillery in ‘storming operations’

Russia has previously denied claims it has tried to storm the steel works

Smoke rises from the Metallurgical Combine Azovstal in Mariupol during shelling (AP)

Mariupol’s Azovstal steel works - the city’s last stronghold of Ukrainian defenders - is being pounded by Russian tanks and artillery, Ukraine’s defence ministry has claimed.

Russia has declared victory in Mariupol, a strategic city on the Sea of Azov, but the sprawling steel works remains under the control of Ukrainian fighters.

Defence ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk gave few details and it was not clear whether Russian forces had launched a new operation at Azovstal.

Reuters could not verify the situation at the plant.

“The enemy continues to blockade our units in the area of the Azovstal factory, and is conducting storming operations with the support of tank and artillery fire,” he told an online briefing.

A view shows an explosion at a plant of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works (REUTERS)

Smoke rises from Azovstal in Mariupol during shelling (AP)

Raising the prospect of Russia stepping up its assault on the steel works further, he said: “The possibility of a renewal of its bombardment from Tu-22 M3 bombers is not excluded.”

Russia has previously denied assertions by Ukrainian officials that it has tried to storm the steel works.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on April 21 that it was not necessary to storm the steel works but called for Russian forces to blockade the area “so not even a fly can get through”.

Ukrainian officials said days later that Russia had started an assault on Azovstal.

Ukraine has said all women, children and elderly civilians that were also in Azovstal have now left. Russia has said the evacuation of civilians from the plant is complete.

eople evacuated from Mariupol arrive on buses at a registration and processing area for internally displaced people in Zaporizhzhia (AFP via Getty Images)

ight buses carrying 174 Mariupol civilians, including 40 evacuated from the Black Sea port’s besieged Azovstal steelworks, arrived in Ukrainian-controlled Zaporizhzhia on Sunday (AFP via Getty Images)

The bombed-out Azovstal steelworks became the last stronghold of Ukrainian defence forces in the region. An estimated 300 civilians were thought to be sheltering there to make a final stand to prevent a complete takeover of the city.

On Sunday, Ukrainian fighters manning the plant vowed to continue their stand as long as they are alive.

“We will continue to fight as long as we are alive to repel the Russian occupiers,” Captain Sviatoslav Palamar, a deputy commander of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment, said.

“We don’t have much time, we are coming under intense shelling,” he said, pleading with the international community to help to evacuate wounded soldiers from the plant.

Illia Samoilenko, an Azov fighter, said they still had weapons, munitions and water, and were prepared to fight as long as they must.

“We can die at any moment... Our message is don’t waste our efforts,” Mr Samoilenko added.