麻豆社

The southern port city of Mariupol, strategically sited on the coast between Russia and annexed Crimea, has been one of Russia's main targets.聽For nearly two weeks, it has been under Russian blockade and heavy shelling, with residents deprived of running water and power, and facing severe food shortages.聽 The Ukraine government says that around 1500 civilians have been killed in Mariupol.聽On Saturday, the Ukrainian authorities said Russian troops have captured the eastern outskirts and repeatedly blocked efforts to evacuate people from the city.

Maryna lived in Mariupol until a week ago when she managed to flee, leaving behind her husband and her parents. She managed to get to Lviv and is now hoping to cross the border to Poland. She spoke of the desperate situation in her home city where water and food are now running out and people are holding funerals in their back yards. She says her husband believes it is now too dangerous to leave as Russian forces are shooting at civilians in the streets and at cars as they attempt to get away, and planting mines on the roads.

"What is better - they shoot you at once, or you die from a lack of water or food?"

Photo: A satellite image shows fires in an industrial area, in the western section of Mariupol, Ukraine, 12 March 2022 Credit: Reuters

Show less