OREANDA-NEWS. Ukrainian militants attempted to break out of the encirclement from the territory of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, the head of the DPR unit with the call sign Khokhol told RIA Novosti. He stressed that the militants made at least two attempts to escape from the cauldron, each of them was stopped.

There were two attempts to break through with Azovstal. On the north direction. But they were stopped. And the breakthrough was stopped. For the most part, they died. It was about three or four days ago. To be honest, I don't even know what number is here right now. Yes, and what's the difference? The main thing is to finish off these fascists faster, and that’s all,” he said.

Earlier, the head of the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation, Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev, earlier assured that the Russian Armed Forces were offering the Ukrainian military and foreign mercenaries blocked in Mariupol from 06:00 Moscow time on April 17 to stop hostilities and lay down their arms. The representative of the military department pointed out that the military is guaranteed the preservation of life.

Khokhol later told RIA Novosti that the militants refused to surrender. It is noted that on April 17 at 12:00 Moscow time, hostilities continued. The head of the DPR unit indicated that the situation in the combat zone remained tense.