According to AP News, an estimated 350,000 people are still trapped in Mariupol in the absence of electricity or water.
The strategic seaport city of Mariupol of Ukraine has been surrounded by Russian forces since March 1 and is being severely damaged by bombs.
In the nearly three weeks since Russia began its military campaign in Ukraine, two AP journalists, the only international media representatives present in Mariupol, have chronicled the history of chaos and despair in Mariupol. here.
Russian forces continue to tighten the siege of this strategic port city.
There’s nowhere to go
Airstrikes and shells continue to fall on Mariupol almost every minute, turning the port city of some 430,000 people into a symbol of fierce fighting between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.
People stay in shelters in Mariupol, without electricity or water. Photo: AP
About 30,000 people fled in private cars with extended convoys, Ukrainian officials said.
Maternity hospitals, fire departments, churches, homes and many other areas were hit by bombs and shells.
Many residents fleeing here said conditions in Mariupol were “unbearable” and like hell. For the hundreds of thousands of people left behind, the simple fact is that they have nowhere to go.
The roads around were deserted. The port is blocked. Food is running out. Electricity is almost nonexistent. The villagers had to use snow as drinking water. Many parents have even left their newborn babies at the hospital, hoping to give them a chance to live in a place with adequate electricity and water.
People burned scraps in makeshift stoves, made from bricks and scraps of metal, to warm cold hands and cook what little food was left.
Local officials estimate more than 2,500 dead, but it’s possible the actual number could be higher because of the relentless shelling. Families have been advised not to attend funerals because it is too dangerous to be outside.
From heaven, suddenly to hell
Just a few weeks ago, Mariupol’s future seemed much brighter.
Before the attack, Mariupol was on a strong track to success with thriving iron and steel mills, a deep-water port and massive global demand for both.
Satellite images show fires rising from a shelled building in Mariupol.
Even the darkest weeks of 2014, when the city almost fell into the hands of separatist forces in the East, have faded from memory.
And so, in the early days of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, when people could still leave, many Mariupol residents had a habit: choosing to stay because they thought they could take anything. what happens next.
According to deputy mayor Serhiy Orlov, only about 100,000 people had left at that time.
“I used to feel so scared in 2014, but I don’t feel that way anymore”Anna Efimova said while shopping at a market on February 24. “There’s nothing to panic. There’s nowhere to run. Where can we run?”
That same day, a Ukrainian military radar and airfield were among the first targets to come under shelling. The shells could then fall at any moment, and almost everyone was in the bunker. Life is no longer normal, but not to the point of not being able to live.
The explosion occurred in an apartment building in the city of Mariupol on March 11. Photo: AP.
On February 27, that began to change when the first victims were admitted to the city hospital.
It is the geographical position that has been favorable to Mariupol for so long that has “countered” it. The city is located perpendicular to the separatist regions in the East – about 10 kilometers to the east at the nearest point – and the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed to Russia in 2014.
The capture of Mariupol will help Russia create a corridor on the link connecting the two regions, controlling the Sea of Azov.
And when the fighting pushed the situation to the point of no escape, the atmosphere of the city changed.
The city gradually fell into chaos and stalemate. The grocery store shelves are empty. The inhabitants of Mariupol huddle in bunkers at night and only go out during the day to get what they need before fleeing underground once more.
On March 6, to the desperation of people everywhere, they turned against each other. On a street lined with dark shops, people smashed several shops in search of what might be obtained.
A man was spotted grabbing a rubber ball. “Put the ball down now. Why are you doing that?”, the store owner was angry. Shame was evident on the man’s face. This person quickly threw the ball back and ran away.
Nearby, a soldier appeared outside another looted shop with a helpless expression.
“Everyone, please unite. This is your home. Why are you smashing windows and stealing things?” said the soldier, his voice broken.
Helplessness and despair
However, an attempt to negotiate a humanitarian corridor to remove civilians from Mariupol failed over the course of several days. A crowd gathered at the road leading out of the city, but a police officer stopped them.
“Every exit was shelled,” he said. “Believe me, I have family at home and I worry about them too. But unfortunately, maximum security for all of us is to stay in the city, underground and in bunkers.” .
Mariupol officials estimate more than 2,500 people have been killed. Photo: AP
This is where Goma Janna stayed that night. Sitting by the oil lamp, not enough heat to dispel the cold of the basement, she had to put on a scarf and sweater, wiping away the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Behind her, a small group of women and children sat huddled in the dark, shivering as they heard explosions outside. “I want to go home, I want to go to my job. I’m heartbroken for everyone and for the city, for the kids,” she sobbed.
By March 9, the sound of fighter jets over Mariupol was enough to make people scream for cover – anything to avoid air strikes. This time, loud explosions resounded in a maternity hospital, creating a huge hole in the middle of the yard and destroying everything around.
An injured pregnant woman was quickly transferred to another hospital nearby. However, the baby born did not survive. Half an hour later, the mother also died. The doctors did not know their names in time.
Ukrainian authorities allege that the Russian plane bombed the maternity hospital in Mariupol, but Moscow denies the allegation, insisting that Ukrainian forces took over the hospital before it was hit, so there were no women and children left.
On Twitter, the Russian Embassy in London posted the words “FAKE” in red over the AP images, noting that the maternity hospital had long since ceased operations and that Vishegirskaya was an actress. role in those images.
The Russian Defense Ministry later denied it had struck the hospital, accusing Ukraine of a staged provocation.
(According to AP)
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