AFP and Océane Théard 9:49 p.m., March 21, 2022
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Mariupol, a strategic port on the coast of the Sea of Azov, has been besieged and bombarded.
Its inhabitants are deprived of electricity, water and gas and according to local authorities, Russian soldiers forcibly transported nearly 1,000 inhabitants to Russia.
The ordeal of the inhabitants of Mariupol continues.
Bombarded relentlessly for more than a month, they have no water, no electricity and nothing to eat.
Humanitarian aid cannot reach this besieged city.
"Russia is committing many war crimes, that's the word, we have to say it. What is happening in Mariupol is a massive war crime. The destruction of everything, the bombing, the killing in such a way undifferentiated, it's horrible" declared Joseph Borrel, head of European diplomacy.
Residents in total destitution
300,000 people are trying to survive in this strategic port city for the Russians.
Russian army tanks entered the city on Friday, March 18.
They continue to advance meter by meter in the streets of Mariupol, besieged and bombarded.
The facades of buildings are gutted, houses and hospitals are reduced to dust.
"A city wiped off the map," said a Mariupol police officer a few days ago.
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The inhabitants are blocked in the city, holed up in shelters and fear permanent attacks.
Yesterday, the Ukrainian authorities accused the Russians of having bombed an art school where 400 civilians had taken refuge.
Those who managed to flee tell of fear, hunger, boiling snow for water, and ruins strewn with corpses.
Mariupol has become a hell, says the police officer.
Until now, the Ukrainian resistance holds its positions.
The city has not yet fallen to Vladimir Putin's troops.