A man who left Mariupol in eastern Ukraine in mid-March said, "I'm scared when I see the marks of a cannonball and wait for death." I felt like I had no choice but to do so, "he said.
A 22-year-old man from Mariupol left Mariupol the day before the theater, where many had been evacuated, was attacked by Russian troops.
Until then, the man had been evacuated to a church about 10 minutes on foot from the theater, but the Russian army's attacks were already intensifying and "at 6 am, three people who left the church died. I was bombed by Russian troops while I was going to draw water in a nearby river, "he said, saying that people close to him who had been evacuated with him were also killed one after another.
Bombardment continued every day around the church, "I was scared when I saw the marks of the shell, and I felt like I had to wait for death," he said at the time when he was cornered.
Regarding the situation when escaping from Mariupol with his family by car, "I was surrounded by Russian troops, so there was only one escape route. While I heard gunshots, the traffic jam continued for about 7 km," many people said. I explained how they were rushing out of town.
While driving in the car, I heard gunshots and explosions, and I saw many vehicles destroyed.
The man is now living in an acquaintance's house in a village near western Lviv, but he remains unable to contact his grandparents in Mariupol.