Pavel Polityuk

KYIV, Ukraine (Reuters – Ukraine on Monday said that tens, perhaps thousands, of Ukrainians had been killed during Russia’s invasion of Mariupol. Russian forces are slowing evacuations from the southeastern town, which is under severe conditions.

In a video message to South Korean legislators, President Volodymyr Zeleskiy stated that “Mariupol was destroyed”, there were tens and thousands of deaths, but the Russians have not stopped their offensive.”

Reuters confirmed extensive destruction at Mariupol, but could not confirm the accuracy of the estimate of the number of people killed. The strategic city is located between Russian-annexed Crimea (which was annexed by Russia) and the eastern regions of Ukraine that are held by Russian-backed separatists.

This would confirm that it is the most recent confirmed death in Ukraine. In Ukraine cities and towns are under constant bombardment. Many bodies including civilians have been found on the streets.

Denis Pushilin (head of Russia’s self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic), said Monday to Russia’s RIA news agency that Mariupol may have seen more than 5,000 deaths. Pushilin claimed Ukrainian forces were to blame.

Petro Andryushchenko was an adviser to Mariupol’s mayor. He stated that the number of people fleeing the city has fallen not because they want to, but because Russian forces had slowed pre-departure inspections.

He said that around 10,000 people were waiting to be screened by Russian forces. Russia prohibits military personnel from leaving with civilian evacuees. Moscow did not immediately respond to our request. It has been previously accused of blocking evacuations by Ukraine.

Mariupol was included in nine humanitarian corridors signed with Russia Monday to help evacuate eastern region residents under siege, however, the corridor was intended for private automobiles only, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vershchuk announced on Telegram.

She stated that it was impossible to reach an agreement on the provision of buses.

Ukraine claims Russian forces are preparing for an offensive in the eastern parts of Ukraine. They will be targeting Mariupol and other areas. These regions have seen people without access to water, food or energy for many weeks. Moscow refers to the Ukrainian invasion as “special military action”.