Almost 100,000 civilians are trapped in the besieged and devastated city of Mariupol in Ukraine, facing starvation while being constantly bombed by Russian forces.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a video address late Tuesday night in an appeal for the release of a convoy that he said was captured by Russian forces.
In the address, Zelenskyy renewed calls for Russia to allow safe humanitarian corridors.
Zelenskyy said that the 100,000 civilians now face “inhuman conditions” under complete besiegement. He said they are without food, water, medication, and are under constant bombings and shellings.
The city has been besieged for about a month now, leaving those trapped inside without basic necessities like food, water, electricity, heat, power, electricity, and medical needs.
In the past 24 hours, about 7,000 people have escaped the ruined city. But one of the humanitarian convoys, which was traveling on an agreed-upon route, had been captured by Russian forces. The convoy was made up of bus drivers and emergency service personnel.
Tens of thousands have fled the city already, bringing with them harrowing testimonies. The southern port city has been described as a “freezing hellscape riddled with dead bodies.” Survivors describe bodies piled up on the streets.
Constant bombing and shelling have destroyed Mariupol to “ashes of a dead land,” officials said.
Satellite images show a burning landscape, with buildings ablaze and huge billows of smoke coming up from the city’s charred landscape.
According to the Pentagon, Russia is now pummeling Mariupol using artillery and long-range missiles, as well as naval ships.
Ukrainian officials have said it is clear that Russia is not interested in the city of Mariupol, but just to “raze it to the ground.”
Russian forces have been accused of indiscriminate fire on civilian areas and the targeting of civilians. Russia claims it does not target civilians.
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