Gravest situation in Mariupol due to Russia’s deliberate actions - Zelensky
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in a video address to the nation late Saturday, Ukrinform reports.
"The situation in Mariupol remains as dire as possible, simply inhumane. This is due to what Russia has done, deliberately. And they deliberately continue to destroy our cities. They are deliberately trying to annihilate everyone remaining there in Mariupol," Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader added that there are only two ways to influence this – either the partners give Ukraine all the necessary heavy weapons, warplanes immediately, without exaggeration, “so that we can reduce the occupiers' pressure on Mariupol and unblock it, or through negotiations, where the role of our partners must also be decisive.
"I want to be heard correctly now: there has not been a day since Mariupol was besieged that we haven’t looked for a solution, either military or diplomatic – anything to save our people. But finding this solution is extremely difficult. So far, there hasn’t been a 100 percent solid option. This applies to both options for military action and the negotiation process," the president explained.
He stressed that although he had heard many intentions from those willing to help and who really have international weight, none of these intentions had been put into life yet.
The president stressed that he would not give up trying to resolve the situation in Mariupol.
"Every day, either I, or Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, or other military commanders, or the chief of our negotiating team, David Arakhamia, are in touch with our Mariupol defenders," added Zelensky.
Russia's aggression has caused one of the biggest humanitarian catastrophes in Mariupol. The invaders have been bombarding unarmed residents and blocking incoming humanitarian aid.
The mayor of Mariupol has previously stated that up to 20,000 civilians have been killed in the city since the onset of Russian invasion. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, the Russians have deployed as many as 13 mobile crematoria in Mariupol to get the bodies of killed civilians off the streets. The invaders are also trying to identify and murder all potential witnesses to the atrocities they have committed.
The Russians are also forcibly deporting civilians to Russia and the occupied Donbas.
About 120,000 civilians remain in the besieged city of Mariupol.
The Azov Regiment, Marines, and other forces continue to defend the city from the enemy onslaught.
Photo: Stringer, Anadolu Agency
