Photo: REUTERS / Deutsche Welle
“Four days ago we gave an optimistic figure, which was 10, 000 victims. With the intensity of the fighting increasing, it must be said that even if the blockade were to end now, the figure would be around 20,000”, said the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, Petro Andriushchenko, to local media, this Thursday (14.04.2022).
The official added that, if the fighting continued with the same intensity, the number of civilian victims could reach 35,000.
“The bodies are being buried everywhere: in the courtyards, in the streets,” he said.
“Because of the intensity of the bombing, people cannot even go out to bury their loved ones. Municipal services do not work, the cemetery is located in a territory controlled by the Russian Army. Death is everywhere, it is visible, “he added.
The city Ukrainian 61470784 of Mariúpol has been besieged by Russian troops for weeks and its fall has been seen as imminent but the defenders have managed to resist.
According to information from the area, the defenders have entrenched themselves in an industrial complex full of possibilities to hide and lay ambushes for the attackers.
Under the industrial complex there is a series of tunnels that are also being used by the defenders.
Some analysts have compared the battle of Mariupol to the legendary battle of Stalingrad during World War II where the Soviet defenders also dug in an industrial complex and also used tunnels.
The disadvantage of the defenders is the provisioning during the siege.
L The tactic of the Ukrainian defenders seems to be to defend Mariupol for as long as possible and thus prevent the Russians from moving forces elsewhere in Ukraine.
CP (efe, afp)