Smoke rises above Mariupol's last stronghold against Russian forces, Azovstal steelworks

Drone footage released on Tuesday showed a large plume of smoke rising from the Azovstal steel plant, the main remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol.

The footage, published by Mariupol City Council, showed large-scale destruction in the plant, which contains myriad buildings, blast furnaces and rail tracks.

Russia has been trying to take full control of the southeastern port city of Mariupol, which has been besieged for weeks and which would be a huge strategic prize, linking territory held by pro-Russian separatists in the east with the Crimea region that Moscow annexed in 2014.

The Azovstal iron and steel works, one of Europe's biggest metallurgical plants, has become an aptly apocalyptic redoubt for Ukrainian forces who are outgunned, outnumbered and surrounded seven weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The city council said at least 1,000 civilians were hiding in underground shelters beneath the vast steelworks.

The besieged city's defenders include Ukrainian marines, motorised brigades, a National Guard brigade and the Azov Regiment, a militia created by far-right nationalists that was later incorporated into the National Guard.

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[lebe]

US politician: "We will fight this war against Russia to the last Ukrainian."

[justasydefix]

Mariupol got decimated. I cant believe that such a once prosperous city turned into catastrophic apycalypse.

[radas]

My god . These clips remind me historical videos of destroyed towns after WW2

[rammingspeed]

Where is GONZALO LIRA?

Where is Tiffany Dover?

[Hi_itsRaph]

I mean i know this is probably in poor taste, but azovstal steelworks sounds like it would make a pretty good cod map

[edwardoemanuel]

Pray for ukraina, , god save ukraina🙏

[perjrgensen]

Respect to the people of Ukraine.. Stay strong Ukraine.. Greetings from Denmark. 👍

[ivanpalyamite]

Greetings from Ukraine 🇺🇦 We will never surrender 😉

[cooler]

Graham Philips made great interview with two British soldiers from Azov, already in YouTube.

[officialreplik]

bye bye Azov it was nice seeing you 😩😩😩😩🤣🤣

[MestariGaming]

May God bless & protect the Defenders of Mariupol!

[TheTrickshot]

Amir Khan's just been robbed at gunpoint in London, but please tell us more about this boring war again?

[basedelon]

After seeing this image, there are those who will still tell you Russia is losing.

[Steven-sidk]

Respect to the warrior of Ukraine.. Stay strong Ukraine.. Greetings from Canada！

[carpediem]

russia has made a brilliant strategic move. they've decided not to storm azovstal. they've moved most troops north to the front lines in the east and only left enough behind to prevent azov from leaving and starving them into surrender.

[DavidRobinson-vdtg]

These last surviving Ukrainian fighters are heroes. A modern day battle of the Alamo. Their names will liveth in Ukraine for ever more ! 🙏🇺🇦

[KodaGSD-ufhg]

Ukrainian s are Warriors God Bless Good Hunting men

[ankaskakanka]

This factory is not good for environment and ecology - very old and should be closed!

[Putti]

good lord those soldiers are brave! they refused to surrender aswell. I can't imagine their thoughts right now!

[mariaskalniak]

So beautiful town destroyed but lots people still survive !