MOSCOW: According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Russian troops have been hitting Ukrainian armed forces' shooting positions at the Azovstal steel mill in the southern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.

The Azov Battalion fighters and Ukrainian forces took advantage of the steel plant's ceasefire to move into their shooting positions, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, quoting Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Vadim Astafyev. He said artillery and planes were being utilised to demolish the firing sites.

The Ukrinform news agency claimed on Tuesday that Russian commandos were attempting to break into the Azovstal factory from many locations, citing Mariupol Patrol Police Chief Mykhailo Vershinin.  "After nearly a day of artillery and aviation training, they stormed the factory in numerous locations. We're defending ourselves. We are retaliating, "Vershinin was said to have said.

According to local media, more than 100 people were evacuated from Mariupol by both the Russian and Ukrainian forces on Monday.

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