First of December Initiative Group appeals to leaders to save Mariupol defenders

That’s according to the Group’s urgent appeal, Ukrinform reports.

“We, Ukrainian scholars, human rights defenders, former dissidents who survived the extraordinary pressure of the totalitarian system, appeal to you, political leaders, who are empowered to help Ukraine and its heroes.

The Ukrainian garrison in Mariupol is completely surrounded by a disproportionate number of Russian troops. For more than 70 days, the military, as well as civilians who had no chance to survive the occupation, remain in the shelter of the Azovstal plant. Without access to water, food, medicine. The military cannot stockpile weapons. They are bombarded from the air, sea, land. Fights don’t stop for an hour,’ the statement reads.

The scholars stress that the battle for Mariupol is the Ukrainian Thermopylae.

“But we live in the humanistic 21st century, and it is our duty, the duty of the entire civilized world to save 300 Spartans of Ukraine.

Their children, wives, and mothers will not forgive us all for our inaction.

The history of world wars knows many examples when the parties showed goodwill and allowed the military to leave the encirclement.

Unfortunately, Ukraine’s diplomatic resource is not enough for such agreements.

We encourage you, highly distinguished leaders, to act as a third party in the extraction procedure.

History will not forget your efforts. The Ukrainian nation will thank you forever.

The Ukrainian garrison in Mariupol can still be saved. But the time is measured now in hours,” the appeal concludes.

The term "extraction" means moving combatants from an enemy-controlled territory to a safe zone.

The Russian invaders have caused the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Mariupol. Unable to defeat the Ukrainian Army, the occupiers have been bombing civilians and are blocking the delivery of humanitarian aid. Thousands of Mariupol residents were killed in the attacks by the Russian Federation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that a number of world leaders were involved in an effort to evacuate the Ukrainian military from Azovstal in Mariupol.

On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.