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According to Ukrainian reports, a grouping of up to 14,500 Ukrainian militants was blocked in the city of Mariupol. After fierce clashes, this number has significantly reduced. The both sides are suffering heavy losses in bloody clashes on the streets. Civilian casualties are also difficult to avoid.
The population of the city is about 400,000 people. Most of them are still in hostage. No mass evacuation was organized before the Russian military came to the city outskirts. Numerous attempts to ensure the safety of humanitarian corridors have been thwarted.
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On March 14, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the outskirts of Mariupol were mainly secured, and mass evacuation from these areas began.
After the agreement was reached with the local authorities, the Mariupol-Zaporozhye humanitarian corridor was opened. As of the morning of March 15, about 250 cars reached Zaporozhye without any accidents.
Despite the hopes of nationalists blocked in the city, it was reported that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to abandon the idea of trying to unblock Mariupol from the northern direction.
Members of the Ukrainian nationalist battalions and other servicemen of the AFU were left on their own, without any military support and supplies.
Despite the dire situation, Ukrainian militants continue their fierce resistance.
On March 14, Azov battalion claimed the destruction of the alleged temporary base of Russian forces as a result of the artillery strike on the outskirts of Mariupol.
They also shared footage of the Russian equipment destroyed in the city.
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On the other side, Russian forces are advancing deep in the city, slowly destroying nationalists positions street by street.
Chechen forces came to Mariupol to support the Russian and DPR mop up operations in the city. Kadyrov claimed that the cleanup of Mariupol is personally led by the deputy of the State Duma Adam Delimkhanov.
He also confirmed that the nationalists occupied the Azovstal Metallurgical Plant. The liberation of such a large facility may take time, as the Ukrainian fighters have dispersed over its entire area. Chechen forces involved in the operation continue to mop up the territory of the facility.
Another large industrial facility the Ilyich Metallurgical Plant located on the outskirts is under the AFU control.
Meanwhile, Russian military reporters who are accompanying Russian and and DPR assault troops share videos showing the street fighting in the Mariupol outskirts.
