A Ukrainian fighter inside Mariupol’s besieged Azovstal steel plant painted a grim and desperate picture of the situation there on Monday, during a lull in the brutal Russian bombardment, describing shortages of food and water, and many wounded people in need of medical attention.
“To put it bluntly, they are trying to wipe us off the face of the earth, despite the fact that they are perfectly aware that there are several hundred civilians here, including children,” the fighter, Mikhail Vershinin, said via audio message.
Mr. Vershinin, 48, said Ukrainian fighters are still in control of the steel complex and are fighting Russian forces attacking the plant perimeter. President Vladimir Putin of Russia last week ordered his military not to storm the fortified complex, but instead to blockade it, but some attacks have continued, along with relentless shelling and bombing. Read more
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