The “Battle for Donbas” is under way which has seen some the worst fighting on Wednesday since the war started on 24 February.

There are currently more than 500 fighters who are stuck at the Azovstal steel plant and a Ukrainian Marine holed up there has warned his troops are vastly “outnumbered” by 10 to one as Russian forces have now surrounded them.

Commander Serhiy Volyna has said despite this they are in “high spirits” remain high and they are still “functioning.”

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Major Volyna has taken on the role of being the spokesman for his unit, he described the situation inside the Azovstal steel plant are dire.

“The fighters who are protecting Mariupol continue to fight in high spirits,” he said in a video message to Sky News.

“Clearly many dead and wounded.” he continued.

He added, “More than 500 fighters need medical support, which is impossible to get here. It’s an underground shelter, so folks are rotting. But we are still functioning and continue to project people.”

The Azovstal steel plant is the last stand for Ukrainian forces and Major Volyna warned Sky News, “Regarding the Russians claims that they’ll take over Mariupol very soon, yes it’s possible.

He conceded, “It is very realistic.”

“The quantity of the fighters on the other side is ten times more significant.

“Their equipment is a lot more advised than ours. Tanks, artillery, aviation.”

He was asked over the civilians who have been seen in videos taken by Azov soldiers inside the steelworks, he said, “Many civilians are hiding in our bomb shelter.

“Among them are women with kids and babies. They also need help as they are trapped, constantly under the shelling of artillery and bombs.”

Major Serhiy Volyna of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, whose soldiers have been holding out in the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works against a Russian force that vastly outnumbers them, tells The Post he will not surrender. https://t.co/DW48aDGvag

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 20, 2022

President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the situation in Mariupol has “unchanged” and it is “extremely severe.”

President Zelensky said, “Purposefully killing civilians, destroying residential neighbourhoods, civilian infrastructure, and using all kinds of weapons, including those prohibited by international conventions, is the Russian army’s modus operandi.

“It’s that villainy, which for generations will mark the Russian state as a source of absolute evil.”