The Azovstal steel plant in southern Ukraine is the only part of Mariupol that has not yet fallen under the control of Vladimir Putin’s troops. On April 20, it was reported that the site had been heavily bombed by Russian troops. Since then, people have been covered in basements. Kremlin-backed media reported that 25 civilians – including six children under the age of 14 – had left the factory, but reports did not say where they had gone. Ukrainian soldiers at the steel plant reported the number to 20 women and children. According to information, among those who left were elderly people. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of Azov’s regiment, said the elderly, women and children were being pulled “from the rubble with ropes”. He said those who left had been “transferred to a suitable place” in the hope that they would be evacuated to Zaporizhia. Vadym Boychenko, the mayor of Mariupol, told the BBC that the people hiding in the steel plant were “on the brink of death and death” and were “praying for rescue”. Mr Putin said last week that Mariupol – a port city on the Black Sea coast – had been occupied and had ordered Russian troops to blockade the industrial area “so that no fly could pass through”. Elsewhere, Angelina Jolie was spotted in Ukraine on a visit to Lviv. In a video posted on Facebook, the actress appears to be smiling and waving to her fans as she ordered a coffee. Angelina Jolie in Lviv, western Ukraine (AP) Jolie has worked as a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for many years, but the details of her trip to Ukraine are unclear. Also Saturday, Ukrainian officials accused Russia of carrying out rocket attacks in southern and eastern Ukraine. The Kremlin has turned its attention to these parts of Ukraine after failing to occupy Kyiv since the invasion began on February 24. Since then, thousands of civilians have been killed and more than 5 million people have fled the country as refugees and their towns have been destroyed by airstrikes. Putin’s forces occupied the southern city of Kherson, based just 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Russian-annexed Crimea. Troops also occupied most of Mariupol – which Russia had declared victory on April 21, claiming that troops had “liberated” the city.
