putin calls off storming of ukraine plant

VLADIMIR Putin has called off the assault on hero Ukrainian troops buried in the Mariupol steel plant, declaring the besieged city is now in Russian hands.

He ordered his forces to continue to securely

blockade the complex instead of launching a bloody

final battle.

Up to 2,000 Ukrainian troops are said to still be holed up in the Azovstal plant which boasts a large underground network of tunnels.

The Russian President said he considered the "storming of the industrial zone unnecessary" as he wanted to safeguard his men.

But the warmonger instead wants an impenetrable wall of soldiers surrounding the steel works after claiming Mariupol had been "liberated."

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

"Block off this industrial area so that a fly cannot pass through."

He gave the fresh orders to defence minister Sergei Shoigu, while calling on the remaining Ukrainian fighters to surrender.