Azot plant now under control of Russian forces

Russian and pro-Russia forces have taken control of the Azot chemical plant in Severodonetsk and “evacuated” more than 800 civilians sheltering there, pro-Moscow fighters have said. 

 The forces have “taken full control of the Azot plant industrial zone,” a LPR representative, Andrei Marochko said on Telegram, a day after Ukraine announced it would withdraw its troops from the key city. 

 Another spokesman, Ivan Filiponenko, said that around 800 civilians who had taken refuge in the plant during weeks of fighting had been “evacuated”.