Putin’s ‘attack dog’ Chechen warlord vows Mariupol will fall within HOURS as Ukrainian marines prepare for final stand

PUTIN’S “attack dog” and Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov has insisted Mariupol will fall within HOURS as Ukrainian marines prepare for a final stand. If they are successful, it will be the biggest city to be seized by Russian forces since the invasion two months ago. ReutersPutin’s forces have been besieging Mariupol since the early days of the war[/caption] ReutersIt’s feared the southern port city could fall within hours[/caption] ReutersTamara, 71, cries in front of an apartment building destroyed by Russian troops[/caption] ReutersThe final Ukrainian troops in Mariupol are holding out at the Azovstal steelworks[/caption] But the martyrs of Mariupol have vowed to fight to the death in the bloody last stand against Russia in a haunting “final message”. Major Serhiy Volyna – the commander of Ukrainian forces’ last stronghold at a steelworks in the besieged city – says troops will not surrender despite relentless blasts by Russian fighters. Putin’s army is trying to storm the Azovstal iron and steelworks where the final Ukrainian troops and civilians are holding out and using underground tunnels to stage a last stand. And Kadyrov, the head of Russia’s republic of Chechnya, claims they will reign victorious in just a matter of hours. He taunted: “Before lunchtime, or after lunch, Azovstal will be completely under the control of the forces of the Russian Federation.” Read more on Ukraine TINPOT ARMY Russia uses off-the-shelf cameras, gamepads & sat navs to fix planes & drones VILE Putin henchman demands Ukrainian POWs used as 'involuntary blood donors' for Russians Major Volyna, of the 36th separate marine brigade, has insisted forces at the plant will “not lay down our weapons” despite being outnumbered ten to one. In a chilling video, he warned it could be their “last message” as Russian troops surround the area and unleash constant barrages of fire. “This is our appeal to the world. This could be our last message,” he said. “We are probably facing our last days, if not hours.  “The enemy is outnumbering us 10 to one. They have advantage in the air, in artillery, in their forces on land, in equipment and in tanks.  Most read in The Sun SHARING IS DARING Netflix warns it will CHARGE users who share their passwords 'SOULMATES' Tom Parker's tearful wife relives moment they met and their best day at funeral BABY ON WAY Towie star Nicole Bass expecting first child with mystery boyfriend ROYAL JIBE Eamonn Holmes takes swipe at 'sneaky' Prince Harry and Meghan Markle battersby's back Coronation Street legend lands huge new role in Disney's Full Monty reboot LOVELY JUBBLY! Only Fools and Horses' Raquel and Cassandra unrecognisable on Loose Women “We are only defending one object – the Azovstal plant where, in addition to military personnel, there are also civilians who have fallen victim to this war.” He also issued a rallying cry for world leaders to help evacuate wounded citizens from the battered city, where large parts have been reduced to rubble by constant air and artillery pounding. “We appeal and plead to all world leaders to help us,” he added. “We ask them to use the procedures of ‘extraction’ and take us to the territory of a third party state.” Major Volyna said the unit has more than 500 wounded soldiers – as well as hundreds of civilians, including women and children. The port city, which was home to more than 450,000 people, has been under constant attack from Russian forces since early March, with satellite images showing devastation to 95 per cent of its residential areas. Amid the “hellscape”, at least 20,000 people are feared dead. Ukrainian fighters who remain in Mariupol have been offered a fresh ultimatum to surrender despite not a single soldier accepting the offer on Tuesday. It comes as… ‘Mad’ Putin is hearing ‘voices inside his head’, an expert has claimedPutin has rewarded the ‘butchers of Bucha’ for their ‘heroism and bravery’Russia’s military bases have been pictured on Google Maps, amid reports they are using ‘fake jets’ to fool the WestWhile Russia’s tinpot army has allegedly been using cheap cameras, gamepads and satnavs to fix up their planes and dronesA former ally of Putin was found shot dead in his £2m apartment alongside his wife and daughterHis death follows a number of Putin allies who have been ‘purged’ in the wake of the Ukraine invasion The Russian Defence Ministry said: “Russia’s armed forces, based purely on humanitarian principles, again propose that the fighters of nationalist battalions and foreign mercenaries cease their military operations from 1400 Moscow time on 20th April and lay down arms.” A similar offer had been made on Tuesday but according to the Russian Ministry of Defence not one soldier surrendered. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says “the situation in Mariupol remains as severe as possible”. It comes as up to 20,000 mercenaries have reportedly been recruited from Syria and Libya after the long-feared “battle for the Donbas” erupted this week. Explosions were heard along the entire front on Monday as Putin launched a major new offensive to seize control of the east. Read More on The Sun NEIGH IT AIN'T SO I have to knock down my £50,000 extension because of a nosey neighbour Ukrainian outlets reported a series of explosions in Kharkiv, Nikolaev and in the suburbs of Donetsk. And videos on social media appeared to show a blitz on towns as anti-aircraft fire lit up the night sky. Kommersant Photo / PolarisThe Martyrs of Mariupol at the steelworks have vowed to fight to the death[/caption] ReutersRescuers work at a residential building damaged in Mariupol[/caption]