Kremlin denies Russian assault on Azovstal steelworks in Ukraine

MOSCOW: The

Kremlin

said Wednesday Russia was not storming the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, after

Ukraine

accused Moscow of launching a "powerful" assault on the industrial zone where Kyiv's forces are holed up.

"The order was publicly given by the supreme commander-in-chief to cancel the assault," Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov

told reporters, referring to an order given by President Vladimir Putin last month not to pursue an attack on the area.

"There is no storming,"

Peskov

said.