Russian defense minister: Mariupol free, remaining Ukrainian troops hiding in Azovstal industrial zone

MOSCOW. April 21 (Interfax) - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has reported the liberation of Mariupol to President Vladimir Putin.

"The Russian Armed Forces and the Donetsk People's Republic militia have liberated Mariupol, and the remaining nationalists are hiding in the industrial zone of the Azovstal steelworks," Shoigu said.

In his turn, Putin prohibited Russian forces from storming the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol but ordered that the steelworks be blocked so tight that "even a fly could not get through."

"I deem a proposed storm of the industrial zone to be unreasonable and order that it be called off," Putin said.

"This is a case where we should think about saving the lives and health of our servicemen. I mean, we should always think about that, especially in this case," Putin said.

"No need to climb into these catacombs and crawl underground through these industrial facilities," he said.

"Block the industrial zone so that even a fly couldn't get through," Putin said.