photo by MAXAR
photo by Alex Shevchenko
The capture of the dump put a significant part of Azovstal under Russian fire control. Russian infantry broke into the plant territory.
The dominant height on the Azovstal territory was a huge slag dump. The invaders began their attempts to capture that height at the end of March. The garage cooperative, which could only be crossed on foot, didn't allow the Russians to drive along the coast directly to the plant territory and the slag mountain.
Before the first attempt, Russian Ka-52 helicopters fired along the coastal strip. Most likely, the Russians believed that the area was mined and were trying to clear it this way.
On the night of May 2-3, a Russian group made it along the coast, from the Nash Kutochok hotel where the Russians had a forward position, and across the garage cooperative to the large slag heap. They reached the top at about 8 a.m., where they forced Ukrainian border guards to leave their positions.
photo by Alex Shevchenko
I had believed Ukrainian border guards were holding the summit on the top of the slag mountain, however, one day, when using a UAV, I saw enemy infantry digging in there. The situation was more complicated because a group of our fighters who were stationed in an improvised field bunker made of a dug-in shipping container were trapped on the eastern slope. It was very risky for them to retreat. I reported to Redis, and he ordered an attack to allow our fighters to retreat.
We gathered a group of about twenty fighters in the nearest workshop and then managed to get to a building near that mountain. We split into three groups of five to seven fighters to climb the mountain from three directions, respectively. I asked the fighters whether anyone was afraid and did not wish to go. Everyone was silent. I asked again – everyone was ready. We left two cover groups to control the slope. Our AGS automatic grenade launcher covered us, and we went out. Frankly, I underestimated how steep and loose the slag we had to climb was. Once we were spotted, we returned fire.
photo by MAXAR
photo by Alex Shevchenko
After reaching the second bench of the heap, I realized we would never reach the top. Fortunately, the trapped infantry managed to retreat, while our group on the right flank even eliminated several Russians. Before descending, I took a photo of the Azovstal complex from the mountain to learn the territory under the enemy’s fire control from the summit.
The riverine approacht from the slag heap to the plant remained clear. Later, to provide supplies to the infantry that controlled the slag mountain, the Russians used boats, floating motor carriers, and APCs.
Photo by Bohdan Ravlikovskyi
They were trying to break through via the Azovstal stadium, using tanks and self-propelled guns. 18-year-old Anton Shevchenko and 22-year-old Oleksiy Lytovka of the 12th Operational Brigade were killed in the battle there.
The next day, Russian aircraft and artillery attacked Azovstal with bombs and shells for several hours, which caused a large-scale fire at the plant. Then the infantry stormed. They managed to break through to the territory in several places.
video from representatives of the aggressor country
In 24 hours, 344 people were evacuated from Mariupol via the humanitarian corridor. Meanwhile, hundreds of Kadyrovite fighters were stationed in all city districts. They continued to abuse civilians even after the hostilities ended. A video became widely known in which two invaders are talking when a woman's scream is cut short by a gunshot.
video from representatives of the aggressor country
