Natalia Zinets. Pavel Polityuk

LVIV (Ukraine) – The Ukrainian president stated Tuesday that there is “nothing left” of Mariupol following weeks of Russian bombardment. Kyiv asked Moscow for permission to evacuate at least 100,000 of those who are unable to flee.

Ukraine is issuing increasingly severe warnings regarding the dire situation in its southern port city. Officials claim that residents there are starving and without power, food or water.

Officials claimed that 300,000.00 civilians also ran out of food at Kherson in southern Ukraine, which was a sign of what international aid officials called the collapse of Ukraine’s humanitarian system.

There is no more. “There are only ruins,” said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of Mariupol in a video address before the Italian parliament.

While he spoke, the council stated that Russian forces dropped large bombs upon Mariupol. However, it did not give any details about casualties or damages. Reuters couldn’t independently verify this report. Russia didn’t immediately respond to the report.

It is evident that the occupiers have no interest in Mariupol. The council stated that they want to demolish it and turn it into ashes.

Russia denied targeting civilians but blames Ukraine on the failures to ensure safe passage of civilians out Mariupol. Russian forces demanded that Ukraine surrender Monday at dawn to allow civilians safe passage.

On Ukrainian television, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vershchuk stated that “we demand the opening a humanitarian corridor to civilians.”

Later, she added that “at least 100,000 people want to leave Mariupol, but can’t.”

Vereshchuk stated that without a safe passageway and buses being allowed into the evacuation area, people would need to travel from 10-20 km (6-6 miles) in order to get to relative safety. This is a dangerous journey to make if there’s no ceasefire.

Other Ukrainian officials also stated that Russian forces prevented humanitarian aid from reaching Kherson, which they own.

“Kherson’s 300k citizens face a humanitarian catastrophe owing to the Russian army’s blockade. Oleg Nikolenko, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry said that Russia has refused to allow humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians.

Russia has not yet commented on Kherson’s situation.

HUMANITARIAN SYSTEM ‘BROKEN DOWN’

Steve Gordon from Mercy Corps International Aid Agency, a humanitarian response advisor, raised concerns about Ukraine’s supply chain vulnerability.

“We know that most municipalities in areas seeing the most intense fighting don’t have more than 3-4 days worth of essentials like food,” Gordon, who is in Ukraine, said in a statement issued by Mercy Corps.

“The truth is, the humanitarian system right now is completely broken down.”

Only about a thousand civilians were able to flee Mariupol. Mercy Corps also witnessed one convoy of vehicles.

Gordon stated that while some people have their belongings secured to the roof, many others have no possessions and it is clear they have had to give up everything.

Russia refers to its actions against Ukraine as “special military operation”, meaning it is designed to arm Ukraine and shield it from the “Nazis.” This pretext is used by the West to justify unprovoked military war.

Russian forces could capture Mariupol to ensure a land route to the Crimea peninsula. This territory was annexed by Ukraine in 2014. This story has been rewritten to include the dropped name of President in Paragraph 4.

Aleksandar Vasovic adds to the reporting, writing by Timothy Heritage and Gareth Jones edit the text