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The joint Russian and DPR forces are claiming new victories in the city of Mariupol. Most of the district of the city were moped up. Clashes continue in the center of Mariupol. The main stronghold of the AFU, including nationalist Azev regiment, is the area of the Azovstal.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down in the region of Mariupol, five kilometers from the coastline over the Sea of Azov. It was heading for the emergency evacuation of the commanders of the Azov national battalion who abandoned their servicemen. Namely, the commander of the 36th brigade Baranyuk and the commander of Azov Prokopenko failed have to abandon their personnel and escape from Mariupol.
On March 28th, the head of the DPR Denis Pushilin claimed that in Mariupol, the central districts are being cleared of Ukrainian troops, the DPR expects to take the city under full control in the near future.
Azov forces in the city were divided in two small groups and completely lost the centralized command. Divisions of the Armed Forces of Russia and the DPR are squeezing disparate groups of Ukrainian nationalists.
After the successful operations of the DPR units in the center of the Left Bank district, the defense of the Ukrainian terrorists collapsed. After being cut off Azov militants left several areas and hastily retreated towards the Azovstal facilities.
map shared by DPR forces
Today, another DPR flag was raised in the building of the local administration of the Kalmius district of Mariupol. The operation was carried out by the famous Somali battalion of the DPR forces. The Kalmius district is the largest one in the city. It is located in the northern part of Mariupol.
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Numerous military bases of the Azov militants were captured by DPR forces. Some of them were left by Ukrainian forces almost without fighting and DPR military got a lot of military equipment there.
Ukrainian flag was removed from the base of the Ukrainian Special Forces in the Eastern part of Mariupol. The Minister of Internal Affairs of the DPR took part in this small ceremony and spoke to the locals who survived the fierce clashes in the area. They welcomed DPR troops and addressed Ukrainian President Zelenskiy with hate on camera.
Another large military base of Azov fighters was captured in the city. Reporters claimed that the Azov militants were leaving the base in Mariupol in an organized manner and probably disguised as civilians, as there was a lot of closes found on its territory.
“The base of “Azov” is closely surrounded by the residential buildings. Here lies a 120-mm mine, they threw them through the city. There couldn’t be no response (from DPR forces).
I have not seen a single position, like the Brest Fortress, to stand to the last. They occupy residential multi-storey buildings, fire at the advancing units, if possible, stab in the back, clamp down.” – military reporter said.
Footage of the assault on the military base of the Azov regiment in Mariupol by the forces of the People’s Militia of the DPR and the Russian Marines was shared by military reporters.
More military bases were destroyed in the civilian settlements, including schools.
Footage from the basement of one of the schools in Mariupol, Azov militants were based, showed a lot of ammunition left by nationalists.
“There are 152 mm, and a bunch of RPGs, and machine guns.”
The Azov regiment is yet to share any victories in Mariupol, only general claims and sentimental video appeals are shared. Deputy Commander of the Azov regiment, Kalina did not record his daily video briefings for two days in a row. On March 28th, he was replaced by another Azov commander, who repeated the same general claims, confirming that the enemy had strengthened positions in the city.
Meanwhile, the city is suffering humanitarian catastrophe. Civilians are being killed in almost all central regions. They are buried in the yards and right on the streets.
The Russian and DPR militants are providing humanitarian assistance in the regions under their control. However, there are still a lot of civilians blockaded in the other districts of the city.
People are rushing out from both the left and the right banks of the Dnieper River. Militants are also trying to get out of the city under the guise of civilians. They are caught on the military checkpoints. At the same time, despite numerous cases of torture of Russian prisoners of war by Ukrainian servicemen, nationalists captured by the DPR are treated in accordance to the international laws of war.
