---
title: "Ukraine defenders fighting 'bloody battles' inside Mariupol steel works"
description: "May 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces inside Mariupol's Azovstal steel works were fighting \"difficult bloody battles\" against Russian troops for a second day on Wednesday, the commander of the far-right Azov regiment said."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Azov defenders stave off Russian attacks"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-05-ukraine-defenders-fighting-bloody-battles-inside-mariupol-steel-works/"
published: "2022-05-05T04:00:46"
updated: "2022-05-04T22:11:07"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 36
---

# Ukraine defenders fighting 'bloody battles' inside Mariupol steel works

> May 4 (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces inside Mariupol's Azovstal steel works were fighting "difficult bloody battles" against Russian troops for a second day on Wednesday, the commander of the far-right Azov regiment said.

By Reuters · Published 5 May 2022, 06:00 SAST · Updated 5 May 2022, 00:11 SAST

## Content

"I am proud of my soldiers who are making superhuman efforts to contain the pressure of the enemy ... the situation is extremely difficult," commander Denis Prokopenko said in a brief video message released on Telegram.