War in Ukraine: the city of Mariupol has fallen

Mariupol (Ukraine) fell on Saturday 21 May. Destroyed at 90%, the city was deserted by three quarters of its inhabitants. It is now entirely in the hands of the Russian army, which broadcast the images of the captured Ukrainian soldiers. A way to show that the enemies are well treated. These men held the Azovstal factory, the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance. After three months of incessant bombing, Mariupol finally gave in. This represents a strategic take for the Russians. They can now make the land junction between the two Ukrainian areas they already controlled.

This victory was acquired at the cost of terrible destruction: more than 20,000 people died. March 16 was one of the worst days with the bombardment of the theater of the city which sheltered a thousand civilians. 300 people died. A week earlier, the children’s hospital had been the target of Russian strikes. Images showed an injured pregnant woman: she and her baby did not survive. For its part, Moscow has always denied its responsibility in the drama.