Putin Calls Off Storming of Mariupol With Ukraine Troops Surrounded

President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia had seized Ukraine’s Mariupol even as his defense minister said more than 2,000 opposing troops remain holed up in an industrial complex in the strategic southern port city.

“Taking control of such an important center in the South as Mariupol is a success,” Putin said in a televised meeting Thursday with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Though devastated by nearly two months of assault, Mariupol would be the biggest city yet taken by Russia in a two-month invasion that has delivered few major triumphs for the Kremlin.

Facing the prospect of a longer and deadlier standoff, Putin ordered Shoigu to call off the storming of the Azovstal steel works, saying it would save the lives of Russian troops. “Seal that industrial area off so that even a fly can’t get through,” he said, calling on remaining Ukrainian troops at the plant to surrender, something they’ve repeatedly refused to do.

“The situation on Azovstal is desperate. Hundreds of civilians, children, injured Ukrainian defenders are trapped in plantʼs shelters. They have almost no food, water, essential medicine,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter. “An urgent humanitarian corridor is needed from the Azovstal plant with guarantees people will be safe.”

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[SOLIDToM]

Such humanitarian concerns. I'm impressed. I think he should be proposed as Nobel Prize for Peace.

[janebeatty]

He’s holding onto that table like a vice grip. He’s not physically well.

[Luka-tyqr]

Look at the way he's sitting and gripping onto the table for dear life. The man's sick

[youmaysayimadreamer]

he also has something rectangular attached to his arm, under the jacket and shirt, in the upper part, where there are no wrinkles

[FS-flash]

He sits so strange, sunken in his chair. I start to believe more and more that he is seriously ill! He is also holding on to the table with his hand, is this to avoid shaking?

[michaelwoods]

Looks like the polonium tea is kicking in..

[andie]

wake up russian people
this is so obviously propaganda to the nation, to show how he cares for his soldiers, but in reality he leaves them there body’s on the battlefield, so
many parents missing there children
evil, perfetic little man
the cracks are really starting to show

[bingrasm]

Shoigu:"Hmmm this fkr do not last long...and he has a good chair, is too big for him, i fit perfectly..."

[AgnosticSpaceCreature]

Mr burns on his trapdoor button incase he says the wrong thing

[derloki]

Sieht wie nach einem Schlaganfall für mich aus...meine verstorbene Mutter hat sich auch danach immer so festgehalten.

[stephaneracicot]

did you see it at 3.45 hes winking at the general and playing footsy look closely

[jacksonghia]

check this Mariupol, in città torna il mercato, , ,

[Gintaras]

The great war strategist Putin (sarcasm)

[Centermass]

Hahaha this guy is basically a wannabe Hitler. Trying to micromanage the battlefield from his desk. What's wrong, don't have any trust in the competency of your military leadership? 😂

[johannesnicolaas]

Two tired and defeated old men who ruin the world.

[ikke]

SHAME ON YOU!!! I feel so sorry for your mother!

[jaywilldoit]

We should liberate Putin from the shackles of life.

[Phantom-bhru]

NATO continued to ignore Zeneskys begging for a no fly zone and Putin comes and delivers on his plea

[pulsar]

I pray to God to keep him sane cause this guy has the power to destroy me and you reading this comment from your comfy chair

[psihopedia]

Am I the only one who feels like vomiting watching this?