Capturing Mariupol would mean an important strategic victory for Moscow.
Putin’s strategy with the Russian invasion of Ukraine has always had Mariupol as a primary target. Located in the Luhansk region on the Sea of Azov, its port is important to Putin. He wants to use the area as a “land bridge” connecting the separatist-controlled Donbas area and the Russian annexed Crimean Peninsula.
A maternity hospital and a theater being used as a bomb shelter were both destroyed with major casualties. Only 100,000 people are believed to remain in the city. And they face extreme hardship with shortages of water, food, medicines, and food. Utilities are cut and buildings are in ruins.
Ultimatum surrender-or-die
Russia has urged the last defenders of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol to lay down their arms. They gave a deadline early on Sunday morning.
Small groups of fighters have been holding out in an Ilyich steel plant in the city. And Putin has sent them an ultimatum, and a deadline to surrender or die. The deadline has passed and the Ukrainians fear that their troops will be massacred by the Russians.
