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Ukrainian militants prepare provocations with civilians in Mariupol — DPR

According to DPR People’s Militia, civilians are being held in one of the city’s schools and inside the Azovstal factory

DONETSK, March 2. /TASS/. Ukrainian militants from the Azov Special Operations Detachment are preparing provocations with civilians held at the Azovstal plant, Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) People’s Militia stated Wednesday.

"According to the obtained information, commander of the Azov Special Operations Detachment […] plans a massive provocation with deaths of civilians at the Azovstal factory in the city of Mariupol," the People’s Militia said in its emergency statement, published in its Telegram channel.

According to People’s Militia, civilians are being held in one of the city’s schools and inside the Azovstal factory, with military vehicles deployed at the factory’s courtyard.

"The nationalists plan to blow up the factory buildings and then accuse the Russian side of extermination of civilians and destruction of civilian infrastructure with artillery fire," the spokesman added.

Previously, People’s Militia spokesman Eduard Basurin announced that Mariupol is completely surrounded, adding that Ukrainian forces do not allow civilians to leave the city.

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