Natalia Zinets, Pavel Polityuk

(Reuters] – Russia has a major strategic prize in Mariupol. The seaside port of Mariupol was devastated by the bombardment of Ukraine for nearly two months.

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin declared the city freed after almost two months under siege. However, hundreds of defense forces remain trapped in the Azovstal steelworks.

This is why it matters:

STRATEGIC LOCATION

Mariupol was home to over 400,000 Ukrainians before World War II. It is also the largest Ukrainian port on the Sea of Azov. Some of the largest metals production plants in Ukraine are located here.

The city was held by Ukrainian officials in Luhansk (or Donetsk), the eastern provinces of Donbas, which Moscow had demanded Ukraine hand over to pro-Russian separatists.

Russia holds Mariupol and controls the Sea of Azov coastline. Russia also has an overland route to link the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. This route links mainland Russia with the eastern parts of Ukraine and Russia.

This connects the two major axes that Russia has invaded and gives Russia the opportunity to participate in the main offensive waged against Ukraine’s eastern army.

Russia’s control of Mariupol may also make it easier for Russia to participate in peace negotiations.

AZOV BATTALION

The Azov Battlion is a prominent Ukrainian force that has defended Mariupol. It was founded by far-right volunteers in response to Russian-backed separatists taking control of eastern Donbas regions.

On Thursday, Sergei Shoigu, Defence Minister, told Putin that Mariupol was symbolic because it was the Azov Batalion’s de facto headquarters.

Russia claims that the demise of this group is one its primary war goals as it attempts to “denazify Ukraine.” Kyiv claims that the unit was reformed, and integrated into the National Guard. This is a claim by Moscow to cover up military failures elsewhere.

Putin stated on Thursday after days of ultimatums for surrendering or dying that those soldiers still in the steel plants would be treated with respect, if they dropped their weapons. This is something they’ve repeatedly refused to do. However, Russia didn’t need to take over the vast industrial zone.

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT

The Siege of Mariupol was the most severe humanitarian disaster of conflict and Kyiv called it a war crime.

Vadym Boichenko, Mayor of Moscow, stated that Russian forces used mass destruction tactics similar to those in Syria or Chechnya.

International Committee of the Red Cross, United Nations and others claim thousands of victims have been reported. However, the scale of the pain cannot yet be estimated because the city is now cut off.

According to Ukrainian officials, around three quarters of the people fled Ukraine before the siege and the rest fled in the midst. According to President Volodymyr Zilenskiy, around 122,000 people are still trapped in the house. Many are still trapped in their cellars, which have no heating or power and lack fresh water.

Russia, for its part, claims that it has taken in 140,000 civilians and provided humanitarian aid. Kyiv claims that thousands were forcefully deported, which would constitute a war crime. It also includes some unaccompanied kids, but Moscow disputes this.

MAJOR INCIDENTS

International outcry was triggered by the March 9 bombing of a hospital for pregnant women.

One week later, bombardment destroyed the main theatre of drama in the city. Ukraine has claimed that many people had sought refuge in its basement. However, it is not able to identify how many of them were killed. On the street, the word “children” was clearly visible from space.

Russia claims that it did not attack civilians in Mariupol. However, Russia claimed, without any evidence presented, that theatre bombings and attacks at maternity centers were staged in an attempt to accuse Russia. This is a lie to divert blame.