According to RIA Novosti, as of 12:00 Moscow time, fighting continued near the factories.
“The situation on the front line is tense.
But we are steadily moving forward.
We are already going to Azovstal.
"Ilyich" is practically ours... What kind of truce?
What to talk about?
They ignored our initiative and received an answer,” said the commander of one of the DPR units with the call sign Khokhol.
Earlier, the head of the National Center for Defense Control of Russia, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, said that the content of radio intercepts of negotiations between national formations and mercenaries blocked in Mariupol indicates that they are demanding permission from Kyiv to surrender.
As of April 16, the entire city territory was cleared of Ukrainian troops, the remnants of the group were blocked at the Azovstal plant.