The Russo-Ukrainian War has lasted for more than 40 days, and fierce fighting is still going on in northern Donetsk, Kherson and Mariupol. Compared with Donetsk and Kherson, it is clear that Mariupol is the key target of the Russian army, which is also in line with Putin's purpose of this special military operation, that is, to de-Nazification, and the Azov battalion, the largest Nazi armed group in Ukraine, is hiding in the Azov steel plant in Mariupol. To capture this military stronghold, Russia is imperative. Donetsk civilian militants say they have taken control of downtown Mariupol and are laying siege to the Azov steel mill. Kadyrov's signal is clear that Chechnya will continue to increase its troops in Ukraine, and that Chechnya will not be soft on the extremist Azov battalions that are stationed in steel mills and hold Ukrainians hostage.
Chechen leader Kadyrov
Although the Azov battalion has been under siege for several days, the Russians have not made much progress at present. There are mainly the following reasons, first, the "Azov battalion" is not a battalion of troops, comprehensive data show that the Azov battalion has about 60,000 troops, and the solidity of the Azov steel plant is absolutely beyond the imagination of ordinary people, this is not an ordinary steel plant, Azov steel plant was founded in 1933 during the Soviet Period, is one of the most important steel plants in the Soviet Period, and was an important part of the production of heavy armored weapons in the Soviet Union at that time. When Germany invaded the Soviet Union, it regarded the Azov Steel Plant as the first target of attack, until 1944, it was recaptured by the Soviet Union, during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the United States deployed nuclear bombs to Turkey and Italy, in order to prevent the blow, the Soviet government at that time rebuilt the Aeszov Steel Plant, the reconstructed Aeszov Steel Plant covers an area of nearly 110,000 square kilometers, there are 40 large production workshops, the solidity of each workshop has been greatly improved, and in order to resist nuclear strikes, a huge tunnel under the steel plant. Now the Azov Steel Works have become the defensive positions of the Azov battalion, which is why the Russian army has been unable to conquer for a long time, not only that, but the Azov battalion has a large number of Ukrainian civilians in its hands. There are also recent rumors that there are big fish in the steel plant, it is likely that the United States or NATO member states of the commander, although it is impossible to confirm the true or false, but recently NATO has more than once proposed to Russia, sent humanitarian aid organizations including the Red Cross into the steel plant to carry out rescue, you can see the hint. Of course, the Russian side will certainly not agree to such a grand request now. Therefore, NATO and the United States are increasing the weapons assistance of the Ukrainian army in Donetsk and Kherson, hoping that the Ukrainian army can take the initiative to counterattack the Russian army, which has reached the point of alleviating the pressure on the Azov steel plant.
The second is that Azov Steel Mill is also an important supplier of European steel, according to statistics, 30% of Europe's steel comes from the export of Aeszov Steel Plant, and it is reported that since the suspension of steel mills, German steel prices have risen by nearly 50%. If the steel plant is occupied by the Russian army, it will inevitably cause a greater crisis in Europe, so both the EU and NATO will find ways to help the Azov battalion!
2s4 Tulip self-propelled gun
Now the Chechen army is storming the steel mills, and the Russians have also brought in the ace weapon of the siege, the tulip self-propelled gun, a self-propelled mortar with a caliber of 240 mm. Powerful enough to destroy manpower and equipment, various bunkers and buildings within a range of 10-20 kilometers. Although the 240 mm mortar shell could not penetrate the underground fortifications of the steel plant, the buildings above the steel plant were difficult to withstand the saturation of the cannon. Given the current "mystery" and importance of the Azov Steel Works, if the Russians can win a complete victory here, it will not be too long before the end of the war!