You're reading: Genocide Сhronicles of Mariupol: Civilians Killed Reaches 22,000

According to the latest information as of April 18, four filtration camps were deployed by the Russian military around Mariupol, which forcibly housed locals before deporting them to Russia. This information was announced on Ukrainian television by Petro Andryushchenko, adviser to the Mayor of Mariupol. The number of dead civilians is currently about 22,000 people. Russian mobile crematoria in partially occupied Mariupol are burning the bodies of tortured and killed civilians to hide the evidence of the Russian army’s evil deeds.

Mariupol has been subjected to the most brutal attacks by Russian troops. The military blockade of the city by Russian soldiers during the ongoing invasion of Ukraine began on March 1, 2022.

The city of Mariupol is located in Donetsk Oblast and is the region’s second-largest city. At the beginning of the blockade, there was not enough food and fuel in the city for a long siege. The only way to connect Mariupol with Ukrainian territories was via the Kuznetsovsky bridge in the Zaporizhia and Donetsk regions, which was within reach of the artillery and aircraft of the invaders, as well as of Russian forces operating at sea. In this regard, a huge, problematic humanitarian situation has arisen in the city.

Mariupol, one of the ten largest cities in Ukraine, is also a port city along the Azov Sea. As of January 1, 2021, its population was about 450,000.

The city is considered an analog of Stalingrad in the war between Ukraine and Russia. Russian troops do not cease their leave attempts to capture the city. And the armed forces of Ukraine continue their fierce resistance.

BBC correspondent Frank Gardner spoke about why this particular urban area is so crucial for the Russian army.

According to him, there are several reasons.

  • First, Mariupol provides the possibility of organizing a land corridor to Crimea. Mariupol is in the way. It does not allow the Russian army, which enters Ukraine from the territory of Crimea, to develop offensive operations. If the city falls, this will open up new strategic and tactical opportunities; it will enable actions to be coordinated Russian-led forces in the Luhansk region.
  • Influence on the Ukrainian economy. In peacetime, Mariupol was one of the main ports through which food and energy products were exported. If access to the port is closed, the Ukrainian economy will receive a severe blow. The country will not be able to maintain trade relations with Middle Eastern nations.
  • Propaganda purposes. Mariupol is now protected by the Azov Regiment, which Russian officials say is made up of neo-Nazis and far-right extremists. If Russian troops can win, it will enable the Kremlin to ramp up propaganda and “call” young people, motivating them with the opportunity to liberate the neighboring areas from “neo-Nazis.”
  • It is improving morale. Russian troops have not yet been able to win any significant victories, so the capture of Mariupol would enable the Russian Ministry of Defense to report on success. That is, to note in the pro-government media that the Russian army has begun its victorious march in Ukraine. In turn, for the population of Ukraine, the occupation of the city could become a demoralizing factor.

On March 9, Russia carried out a rocket attack on a maternity hospital and a children’s hospital in Mariupol. The city council said that the building where  children had recently been treated was completely destroyed. As a result of this Russian air strike, 17 people were injured, including pregnant women.

On March 16, Russian troops continued shelling civilian areas of Mariupol. Russian artillery struck many places. About 1,000 civilians were hiding in the Mariupol Drama Theater hid when it was bombed.

In front of the theater, on the asphalt there was a monumental inscription in Russian, “children,” which was visible from the air. But Russian bombers still went ahead and launched an air strike on the building, turning the building into ruins. According to the Mariupol city council, the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater killed about 300 people. The Ukrainian authorities called it a war crime.

In this practically destroyed city there are, according to the Mayor of Mariupol, around 100,000 perhaps 120,000 civilians.

“People are asking, begging us for a complete evacuation,” the head of Mariupol says bitterly. It is clear that the city is partially occupied by Russian troops. From the first days of March, we systematically planned the evacuation from Mariupol, scheduled to take people out using our internal public transport, announced locations, prepared vehicles, refueled them. Unfortunately, we did not receive consent from the silent regime, and not a single bus could leave.”

On March 29, Maxar Technologies’ WorldView-3 satellite captured an image of hundreds of people queueing up outside a grocery store in Mariupol.

Food lines in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol are visible from space (satellite photos). Satellites continue to provide glimpses of the toll that Russia’s ongoing invasion is having on the Ukrainian people.

“The entire infrastructure has been destroyed – people there are without heat, water, and communication,” the mayor says. According to him, the Russian military delivered aid organized by the Ukrainian side to Mariupol. “Thank God that people have the opportunity to get at least some food; it’s good.”

All attempts by the UN and its partners to deliver aid to Mariupol were unsuccessful.

“Fighting is taking place inside the city. The ring is shrinking,” the mayor said.