Russia says all urban areas of Mariupol cleared of Ukrainian forces

A building damaged during fighting is seen in Mariupol, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Alexei Alexandrov, File)

The Russian defence ministry on Saturday announced it had cleared the entire urban area of Mariupol of Ukrainian forces and said only a few fighters remained in the Azovstal steelworks, the scene of repeated clashes.

In an online post, the ministry said that as of April 16, Ukrainian forces in the besieged port city had lost more than 4,000 people, RIA added.