Ukrainian troops in Mariupol: Russia issued an ultimatum for the remnants of Ukrainian forces currently holding Mariupol. Following the sinking of Russia’s Black Sea Flagship Moskva, Russia stepped up its war efforts by firing multiple long-range missiles at targets across Ukraine. Apart from known locations where the presence of Ukrainian soldiers have been confirmed, many civilians were also killed in the missile attacks as collateral damage. President Zelenskyy has condemned Russia in a statement for its lack of morality in targeting civilians deliberately and also urged World leaders to support Ukraine by Sending heavy weapons and planes immediately so that the blockade at the port city of Mariupol can be broken.
The defense ministry of Russia issued a statement saying that considering the devastating situation of the Ukrainian soldiers in Mariupol, the remaining soldiers in Azovstal Metallurgy plant as well as foreign legion fighters in Mariupol are provided with the option of surrender. Any soldier that surrenders will not be harmed or taken prisoner and they can simply walk away as long as they do so before 10 am minus any arms and ammunition that they had been carrying, said Russian Ministry of defense on Saturday. The soldiers are given a deadline of 6 am Moscow time (0300 GMT).
Russia is hell bent on taking Mariupol to make up for all the losses that Moscow has been taking till now. If Russian forces succeed in capturing Mariupol it will be the first major Ukrainian city captured by Russian forces in the south of the nation. Russia holds the majority of troops on the ground currently in Ukraine, that’s the reason Russia’s spirits have been emboldened.
The southern port city of Mariupol is a strategic location that needs to be captured in order to bring the Donbas region under control, which also explains the policies of Invading Russian Troops. Russia has held a very strong hard point view towards the besieged port city, the resistance it faced from the Ukrainian defenders holding the city was unexpected from Moscow’s side. Taking the city will also provide much needed morale for the Russian troops considering the growing level of discontent among the troops in the fronts.
Following Russia’s declaration there was no immediate response from Kyiv. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a later statement that the Ukrainian soldiers currently holding Ukraine have been stranded in the city. They are in poor condition, low arms and ammunition supplies and need of immediate medical aid. Despite all the complications the Ukrainian troops are far from surrendering and the war is still far from being over said president Zelenskyy adding that if Mariupol falls and the remnants of Ukrainian forces in the city are killed then there will be no further peace talks with Russia.
Since the beginning of the invasion Russian forces had met with heavy regional resistance, but now after taking multitudinous battering from defending Ukrainian forces, Russia is finally catching up and it is now the Ukrainian forces taking heavy casualties. Moscow’s recent bombing efforts an Ukrainian tank repair factory was struck in the city of Kyiv on Saturday.
As Russia pushes further into the major cities, it is now refocusing it’s operations in the eastern cities of Ukraine. But the Ultimate objective behind the invasion of Ukraine remains the same. Russia is still committed to make Ukraine abandon it’s Euro-Atlantic orientation as it asserts it’s regional dominance in the soil of Europe. As aggression becomes mainstream for Russian troops diplomacy is slowly taking the back door with every passing day.
The fall of Mariupol seems imminent as the Ukrainian contingents are being reduced to smaller numbers. It is now just a matter of time. Considering that no international forces have come to the assistance of the Ukrainian troops, apart from sending military and humanitarian aid shipments. The Ukrainian forces are left largely on their own, and most probably will have to continue fighting their fight themselves.
Published By: Simran Mulani
Edit By: Khushi Thakur
