Ukraine intercepts bitter Russian radio message: 'Will be wiped off the face of the earth'

Created: 04/19/2022Updated: 04/19/2022, 23:01

By: Richard Strobl

A hand grenade and a destroyed wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, believed to belong to the Azov Battalion defenders, lie next to a destroyed residential complex.

© Maximilian Clarke/dpa

In the Ukraine war, Russia is probably planning a devastating air strike against the "fortress" of Mariupol.

This emerges from an intercepted radio message.

Kyiv – Russia has apparently started its new major offensive in the east of the country in the Ukraine war*.

This was preceded by massive airstrikes across the country, apparently intended to prepare for the increased deployment of Putin's ground troops.

The situation in Mariupol is particularly precarious.

According to Ukrainian sources, 2,500 fighters and almost 1,000 civilians are holed up in the Azovsteel industrial complex.

Russia has not yet managed to capture this "fortress".

Ukraine offensive of Russia in Donbass: Mariupol "fortress" before the fall

On Tuesday, Russia granted the people at the plant a two-hour ceasefire - combined with an ultimatum to leave the plant.

Russia reports that 120 civilians then fled.

The pro-Russian separatists, on the other hand, reported that nobody had used the corridor.

A bitter fate could now await those who remained.

According to CNN, the Ukrainian secret service SBU intercepted an alleged Russian radio message on Tuesday.

It says that Russia wants to “level the Azov plant with the ground”.

Ukraine may have intercepted Russia's Mariupol radio message

The leader of a Russian train is said to have dropped off the radio message almost four kilometers from the plant.

He spoke of a "surprise from Russia" and later specified: "A three-ton (surprise, editor's note) from the sky."

The remaining civilians in the plant are also addressed: "Everyone left - everyone who wanted to." According to the report, the Russian also talks about the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk in Luhansk, which "is being wiped off the face of the earth.

The third day in a row.”

It wouldn't be the first time Russian radio communications have been intercepted.

The BND had also already listened to Russian radio - the information then leaked to the public.

According to CNN, Russian troops have a tendency to conduct talks over unsecured lines during the Ukraine war.

However, the authenticity of the radio message could not be checked independently.

We have summarized the background to the Ukraine war for you here.