Ukrainian defenders down enemy warplane over Mariupol

Ukrainian defenders shot down a Russian warplane over the besieged city of Mariupol on the coast of the Sea of Azov.

The Mariupol City Council broke the news on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"There’s some good news today! At 16:45, near the Neptune Pool, our defenders shot down one of the Russian occupiers’ warplanes, which had been destroying our city over the past weeks. This is what every enemy is facing! Everyone who encroached on our freedom!” the statement reads.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Russian troops caused a humanitarian catastrophe in Mariupol. The invaders have been bombing unarmed civilians and blocking humanitarian aid.

According to the deputy commander of the Azov Regiment, Russian bombs hit Mariupol every ten minutes. In addition to tanks and artillery, the city is being shelled by Russian warships.

The commander of the Azov Regiment said that the civilian death toll in Mariupol was growing by the day, now standing at more than 3,000.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine Iryna Vereshchuk said on March 21 that 45,000 people had so far managed to flee the besieged city.