Ukraine says Mariupol was ‘erased from the Earth’

Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the Donetsk region, said on April 15 that the Ukrainian army “remains tenacious in defending Mariupol” from Russian bombardment of the coastal city of Azov, although the city has been “obliterated. from the Earth”.

“The opponent cannot capture the city of Mariupol. They can take the land where Mariupol used to be, but the city of Mariupol no longer exists,” Kyrylenko said.

The Russian army has besieged Mariupol for more than a month and now controls part of the city. People here live in shortage of food, fresh water, heating and humanitarian aid.

Analysts predict Mariupol could become the first major Ukrainian city to fall next week. Occupying Mariupol would give Russia control of the Azov Sea coast and serve as a land bridge between separatist-held eastern Ukraine and Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.

Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on April 15 said that the situation in Mariupol is very complicated. He said Russia is focusing on attacking industrial zones and the port of Mariupol. Russian forces also increased their shelling and used Tu-22M3 long-range bombers to bomb the city for the first time.

“But the Russian side has not yet fully controlled the city,” he said.

The United Nations has repeatedly called on Russia and Ukraine to cooperate in opening a humanitarian corridor to bring civilians out of the city to safety. Humanitarian agencies have successfully opened several humanitarian corridors. About 100,000 people are believed to be still trapped inside the city, which had a population of 450,000 before the outbreak of conflict. Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko said that at least 21,000 people in Mariupol had been killed, with bodies “scattered on the streets”.

While the Ukrainian military is trying to stop the Russian advance, the Russian Defense Ministry on April 15 announced that the forces have taken full control of the Ilyich iron and steel plant in Mariupol. However, Russia has yet to capture the Azovstal steel plant, one of the largest smelters in Europe.

According to the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, the Azov battalion, one of Ukraine’s most skilled and controversial military units, has defended a vast steel plant east of the city against several attacks this week. .

The Azvostal plant is operated by Metinvest, which produced 45% of Ukraine’s steel output last year. The company that produces millions of tons of iron, steel and coil products every year is owned by billionaire Rinat Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man.

The Azov Battalion accused Moscow of using toxic chemicals in the area, but offered no evidence. The US and a number of international organizations are investigating. Russia has not yet responded to this allegation.

Hong Hanh (According to Washington Post)