The battle for the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol continues and today (Thursday) Ukraine claimed that the last two units left in the besieged city managed to unite forces thanks to a “dangerous maneuver that strengthens their resistance against the Russian forces”. Dennis Prokopenko, commander of the Moss Regiment, said his unit had joined forces from the naval brigade. The commander of the naval brigade added: “We will do whatever it takes to successfully complete our combat mission.”
The two units were involved in a last-ditch attempt to resist a Russian attack on the city that has been going on for more than a month. The units are surrounded by Russian forces and their supply is running low. During the fighting, Ukrainian forces struggled to seize parts of the port and Mazubstal, a huge steel plant located on the outskirts of the city.
An analysis of the situation in Mariupol by the War Research Institute revealed that the defense of the city had reached a critical stage. The unification of Ukrainian forces came after “Russian forces crossed Mariupol from the city center to the coast on April 10, isolating the Ukrainians in two main places: the main port of Mariupol in the southwest and the Asobstal steel plant in the east,” it read.
On the other hand, a spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense, Igor Konashenkov, said the commercial port had been occupied. The Russian military has repeatedly claimed to have taken strategic positions in the city, but has also encountered strong opposition from Ukrainian forces. Last night it was alleged that 1,026 Ukrainian Marines – including 162 officers and 47 service women – surrendered. Prokofenko, from a moss battalion in Ukraine, admitted that some of the Ukrainian defenders had surrendered.
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Russian television also aired footage Wednesday showing Ukrainian Marines surrendering to Russian forces. The photos also show Russian soldiers in the bombed-out theater that was damaged in the Russian attack.
“About 180,000 civilians were trapped in and around the city in extensive destruction and incessant bombing,” said Mayor Vadim Boychenko. The president of Ukraine said that “Mariupol has been destroyed, there are tens of thousands killed and Russia does not stop its attacks”