"There are few places where mobile phones can be connected, and it is dangerous to go next to each other."


-The situation in the city that a person living in Mariupol, southeastern Ukraine, told his family.



In Mariupol, more than 2000 civilians have died, according to the Ukrainian side.


We will read the testimony of residents and their families about the current state of the "largest battlefield" where information is limited due to damage to the communication network.

Why are Russian troops in Mariupol?

According to an analysis of American think tanks, Russian troops invading Ukraine are slowly besieging the city.



Along with the capital Kyiv and the second city of Kharkov, Mariupol is a place where fierce offenses and defenses are repeated.

A city with a population of more than 400,000 facing the inland sea and the Sea of ​​Azov in the northern part of the Black Sea is a key point connecting the pro-Russian territory in the east and Crimea, where Russia was annexed unilaterally.



Regarding the reason for the fierce battle, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Kleba said,


"Russian troops are trying to occupy Mariupol at great cost to secure a land route that connects directly to the Crimean Peninsula. I'm violently resisting because it's blocked. "

"Indiscriminate attack" What is the sacrifice of citizens?

President Zelensky said on the 8th, "For the first time in decades, probably for the first time since the invasion of Nazi Germany, one child died of dehydration in Mariupol. Partner countries, please ask. Children in 2022. Died of dehydration, "he said, accusing Russian troops of blocking the city and deliberately obstructing the delivery of food and water.



After that, the Russian army will continue to advance.

"Russian indiscriminate attacks almost destroyed the beautiful city and killed 1582 inhabitants, according to local authorities. For the first time since World War II, people were buried in mass graveyards."


-Ukrainian UN Ambassador Kislitsa Is the local situation described at the emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on the 11th.



On the 13th, the Ukrainian parliament revealed that 2187 civilians had been killed in the attack by Russian troops so far. "There is a humanitarian catastrophe. About 100 bombs have been dropped and infrastructure such as hospitals Was destroyed. "


In addition, on the 14th, EU High Representative Borel of the European Union said that more than 2,400 civilians had been killed so far.



"The bombardment trapped them underground, killing two children. No one was able to save them."


Increasing numbers of victims, such as women, say.

What about lifelines and food?

Can you live?

Communication is difficult and information about people's lives is extremely limited.



The ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross, which continues to support local activities, reported on the 12th that the staff in Mariupol said that

electricity


, gas and water were cut off and food and drinking water were running out. The staff

posted on Twitter


that they brought food and other items to continue their evacuation life at the office .

The staff said, "People are sick because of the cold. It's really cold. You can use electricity for three or four hours a day because you have fuel for the generator, but when the water runs out, the river I'm going to boil the water, but I think it's relatively fortunate compared to other people, "he said, explaining that many continue to evacuate in even more harsh conditions.

A woman who left Mariupol on February 24, when the Russian invasion began, has not yet met her parents in their 60s, who were scheduled to evacuate after her.

She said she couldn't leave her home because the evacuation route, called the "humanitarian corridor," wasn't secured.

Communication is poor and there are only a limited number of places where mobile phones can be connected, but there is a risk of being involved in Russian bombardment.

The woman has no choice but to wait for contact from her parents.










I was told that my living infrastructure such as electricity and water was damaged and could not be used. "My parents have almost run out of food because the store is closed, and they drink rain and snow. It was blocked by the Russian army and couldn't reach it, and the cold weather was getting severer. "



Daria Shastun, 22, from Mariupol's, was unable to return to her hometown as a Russian military invasion began while she was volunteering in Africa.


She is currently living in Latvia, the Baltic States.

I hear from my parents who remain in Mariupol's that they rely on the small amount of food they have stored and the water in their wells as electricity, water, and gas stop working one after another.



Mr. Shastun accused Russia of saying, "The evacuation route should have been agreed, but it is not being followed. The Russian army says'do not shoot', but it actually shoots."



He said, "I'm sure I'll see her mother, but I don't know if she'll see her soon. She wants to go home."

What about the medical field?

Local officials in Mariupol's announced on the 9th that a hospital containing obstetrics and other departments was attacked by Russian troops, killing three people, including one girl, and injuring 17 doctors and others.


According to the Associated Press, one of the pregnant women rescued from the hospital subsequently died.



<Doctor who treated>


"At that time, three women were brought to the hospital, and one of them was in shock due to the pelvis being crushed and was in a dangerous state. The child is already out of breath and has taken life-saving measures, but even medical institutions to save the lives of those who have died both mother and child have



been targeted and are barely functioning.



In the dark due to a power outage, a male doctor had no choice but to continue treatment for the injured, saying, "I continue to work in an environment without electricity. I have no rest for more than a week." Did.



The international NGO "Doctors Without Borders" also tells the story of the local staff.



"Tonight's bombardment was even more intense and closer." "No electricity, water, heating, no cell phone," "Yesterday I collected snow and rainwater." "Pharmacies no longer have medicine." Sad words are lined up.

Does the evacuation route not work?

As criticism from the international community grows, Russia has set up evacuation routes to let its citizens escape, and evacuation continues in various parts of the country.



However, on the 11th, the Ukrainian side accused the Russian side of Mariupol's inability to allow citizens to flee outside or deliver relief supplies inside.


It is said that it is being attacked by tanks.



In addition, Deputy Prime Minister Beresichuk revealed that a vehicle heading for Mariupol to carry residents on the 12th was detained by Russian troops for five hours and could not arrive, and no one was evacuated.



Only on the 14th, local parliament revealed that at least 160 cars with evacuees could only evacuate through the evacuation route.

However, it is unpredictable whether the evacuation route will work as it is.



Parliament, meanwhile, has accused the Russians of obstructing the convoy that is trying to send relief supplies to Mariupol.

Florian SELEX, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross, who provides local support, said, "I hear that the situation is really hopeless and there is almost no food, water, electricity or heating equipment. Everyone is desperate to survive. It seems. "



Regarding the evacuation route, he said, "The parties to the conflict need to make a concrete and efficient agreement so that the citizens can evacuate safely. That is the most important now."