The Russian siege of the city of Mariupol (numbering about 460,000 inhabitants) turned into a stubborn war over the weekend, with Russian military forces occupying more and more neighborhoods and parts of the city located in southeastern Ukraine, on the shores of the Moss Sea.
Ukrainian Marine Corps forces have released documentation showing that Russian soldiers managed to enter the city center but were repulsed, while absorbing casualties and equipment destroyed.
Several sooty armored vehicles were documented on the city's main streets.
Hospital in Mariupol before and after the Russian attack,
Shopping complex in Mariupol, before and after the Russian attack, Photo: AP
Apartment buildings in Mariupol before and after the Russian attack, Photo: AFP
Despite what appears to be a success in repelling the Russian army from the city center, the effective siege imposed by the Russians on the besieged forces in the city, along with the great suffering of the city's citizens, means that the defenders' weapons and ammunition will run out and have to surrender.
Satellite images released last night (Saturday) showed huge damage to civilian buildings in the city, including schools, a hospital, supermarkets and countless residential buildings bombed by the Russians.
The city is a week and a half without a power supply, running water or communications, and food and medicine for the residents are running out.
Before and after the attacks in a residential area in Mariupol,
Shopping center in Mariupol before and after the Russian attack, Photo: AP
Dennis Malihin, a member of Mariupol's regional defense forces, posted on Facebook that he said: "Yes, we are under siege, the front line passes through the residential areas on the outskirts of the city. Yes, our situation is difficult. Of the enemy are not sweet at the moment. "
A fire in an industrial area in Mariupol after the Russian attack,
Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol after halting Russian fighters,
Malihin claims that there are more civilians killed in the city than soldiers killed, this is because the Russians are firing indiscriminately and are having a hard time hitting the excavated army units.
"We are doing everything we can to help civilians caught up in the fighting, but that is not our main goal. Our morale is high and our enemy is a serious dick, who comes to our city, sows destruction and fights dirty," the soldier wrote.
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