Mariupol situation: Mr. Zelensky revealed the reason why Ukraine decided to “kill” Mariupol

“While we are here, Mariupol remains in Ukrainian hands,” Syatoslav Palamar, a captain in the Ukrainian Azov regiment, declared from within Mariupol in an underground bunker, according to the NZ Herald.

Before that, experts had been predicting Mariupol’s potential demise for weeks. So far, the fact that the southern Ukrainian city has stood firm has been one of the constant surprises of the war.

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, has stated that the battle in Mariupol may be the most important battle of the war.

“Mariupol is now at the center of this war. The city is under attack. We are fighting. We are strong. And if Mariupol falls, we will be in a weaker position,” Zelensky stressed.

“The stronger our position in Mariupol, the stronger our position in the East will be. And if Mariupol stands, the negotiating table will be closer and we will have an advantage in the dialogue with the Union. Russia,” Zelensky added.

The Ukrainian leader warned that if Mariupol falls and the battle in the east turns fierce, Russia will seek to take advantage and continue to expand the war. According to Zelensky, both sides of the war were aware of the importance of the battle.

One Western official commented: “If and once Mariupol falls, the forces fighting here are free to attack northwards to find ways to coordinate with those striking south from Izyum. The Ukrainians will then have to face the dreaded pincer attack.”

The official said Russia would seek to “double or triple” its available forces in the Donbass before launching an offensive in the region and “it would take a considerable amount of time to deploy a massive force.” so huge”.

The length of the siege, the scale of destruction, and the fierce resistance of the Ukrainian defenders in Mariupol have drawn comparisons to the Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943).

The famous battle at Stalingrad then ended in a miraculous victory for the Soviet Red Army. This is also the bloodiest battle in the history of the world with over 2 million casualties on both sides.

The siege of Mariupol began on March 3, when Russian thrusts from Crimea and the Donbass met and completed the siege of the southern Ukrainian port city.

The Russians are said to have quickly targeted essential utilities including water and electricity to force the defenders in Mariupol to surrender.

Russia also destroyed communications infrastructure, making it nearly impossible for those trapped inside to share or post the reality of the battle.

Fierce fighting devastated almost all of Mariupol. The apartment blocks were burned black, the streets were in disarray, smoke rose from all over the city…

Russian infantry and armored vehicles, supported by artillery and air strikes, waged fierce street-to-street fighting with several thousand Ukrainian marines, border guards and central fighters. the Azov group.

The defenders at Mariupol are described as tenacious and resourceful, making extensive use of ambushes and having the advantage of having a better understanding of the city’s topography than the Russians.

“The fall of Mariupol has long been predicted by many, but the forces there continue to fight extremely bravely,” a Western official said.