There are reports of explosions being heard at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol on Friday.  The mayor of Mariupol said those hiding at the steel plant were running out of food, water and medicine. An operation was planned to evacuate those hiding in the plant, the Ukrainian president's office has said, without providing further details. As a port city in Donbass region, Mariupol is regarded by Moscow essential in taking the entire region. The city has been under siege for two months since February 24 and Azovstal steel plant is the last stronghold of Ukrainian forces in the city.