Ukraine condemns Russia’s phosphorus bomb attacks on Mariupol

The Russian military has launched more than 50 bomb attacks, including the use of “large quantities of phosphorus bombs”, on besieged Mariupol in southern Ukraine, as the Azov Battalion, part of the Azov forces, condemned this Thursday. resists in the port city.

About 500 members of this nationalist regiment and about 1,000 civilians were besieged at the steelworks in Azovstal, the only point in Mariupol that had not been captured by Moscow troops.

According to the statements reproduced by the Ukrainian newspaper “Pravda”, the captain of the regiment said, “During the night there were a large amount of phosphorus bombs, 50 airstrikes, missiles, artillery and everything that a barbarian could use against humanity.” .

In a message posted on Telegram, the deputy commander of the Azov Battalion, Sviatoslav Palamar, called on the authorities to take decisive action to end the blockade of the city or evacuate the besieged residents and resistance soldiers.

“I urge the political-military leaders to take strong measures to lift the blockade or evacuate everyone who believes in the homeland. It is true that today not only Mariupol is Ukraine, but Ukraine is also Mariupol,” said the captain.

The Ukrainian military estimates that Russia lost equipment worth US$162 million (R$812.6 million) in Mariupol during the 64-day war. According to Palamar, Moscow would also have spent US$288 million (R$1.44 billion) on munitions and aircraft.

The city, which had a population of close to half a million before the invasion, which started on February 24, was almost completely destroyed by Russian attacks, which controlled almost all of it.

Authorities in Ukraine state that about 120,000 people still remain in the ruins of Mariupol without water, electricity and basic necessities. In addition, they condemn Russia’s blocking of all attempts to bring humanitarian aid to the population.

The city’s mayor, Vadym Boychenko, said yesterday that as many as 20,000 local civilians have died since the start of the conflict.