Ukraine: Mariupol and Kiev are as hot as a furnace

According to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the military situation in the south and east of the country “still very difficult”, and praised the achievements of the Ukrainian armed forces.

“The successes of our military on the battlefield are truly of great significance and historical significance. But that’s still not enough. We will defeat them more,” Zelensky said, again calling on his allies to send more heavy weapons and implement an international embargo on Russian oil.

In an interview with CNN on the same day on April 15, Zelensky said that 2,500-3,000 Ukrainian servicemen were killed in the war with Russia and about 10,000 others were injured.

Pro-Russian forces on armored vehicles towards Mariupol city on April 15. Photo: Reuters

In Mariupol, this port city in southeastern Ukraine, on April 15, witnessed the fiercest fighting since Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. Home to about 400,000 people before Russia’s military intervention, Mariupol has been reduced to ruins. Thousands of civilians are reported dead and tens of thousands remain trapped in the city.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said that Russia has continuously sent reinforcements and long-range bombers to attack Mariupol but has not fully controlled the city.

After the Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of Illich steel plant in Mariupol, Ukrainian forces are said to be holding another steel plant, Azovstal. Both factories are owned by Metinvest – the empire of Ukraine’s richest businessman.

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said 2,864 people were evacuated from conflict zones on April 15, including 363 who traveled from Mariupol by private car.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Reuters