Azov militants in Mariupol
Assumptions about the imminent capture of Mariupol, which were made after the successes of the PDR forces at the end of the last week, have not been fulfilled. The main part of the large industrial facilities of Azovstal, as well as several districts in the city, are still under the Azov control.
Russian and DPR units continue the mop up operations in the city of Mariupol which has already suffered significant destruction. The both sides have suffered significant losses. The actual number of casualties is still difficult to determine.
On March 22, the Azov battalion claimed another victory.
In the morning, the AFU attacked Russian armored Raptor-type boat near Mariupol, which provided the blockade of Mariupol from the sea. The boat was hit with an ATGM from the coast in the Primorsky district, which is still under the control of Ukrainian armed forces.
The DPR-linked sources promptly responded claiming that according to preliminary data, two crew members were injured and the ship was not destroyed, but damaged. It was reportedly towed to Yeysk region for repairs. However, the claims are yet to be confirmed.
After the Azov militants released a series of epic video appeals calling for support, they seem to be suffering from a lack of victories to share with the world on social media. Thus, on March 22, they published a video showing the Ukrainian T-64BV tanks shelling the streets of the city. However, the video was made weeks ago, on the first days of operations in Mariupol, and represents yet another proof that nationalist forces deployed their heavy artillery in the residential areas since the very beginning of the fighting. That’s why today, horrific footage showing the destructions in the city are actively shared worldwide, blaming Russian forces.
At the same time, military journalists are sharing more proves inhumane activities of Ukrainian nationalists.
Numerous videos shared by Russian reporters, including footage made by Chechen forces, confirmed that the UAF are now actively using civilian cars to move around the city. The footage also confirmed that Ukrainian militants appear to be suffering from a lack of equipment.
New reports of the DPR media sources and those made by a correspondent of the Chinese CGTN TV channel from the Mariupol airport which has been recently liberated from the AFU, confirmed that the facility was used as another military base by the Azov battalion.
The law enforcement agencies of the DPR launched investigation of the war crimes of the Ukrainian nationalists, who set up an underground prison at the airport.
The mass evacuation from the Mariupol regions under the DPR and Russian control continues. Those who managed to escape are testifying on the crimes committed by the Azov militants.
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The DPR-linked sources in the city warned that nationalist forces in the city were reportedly ordered to destroy everything that could become another evidence against the Ukrainian authorities. The Azov members were reportedly given a green light to eliminate eyewitnesses and persons suspected of disloyalty. Thus, those involved in the production of fake videos in the city, including in the maternity hospital that had been allegedly destroyed by Russian warplanes weeks ago, are also at risk.
