Now the Ukrainian army cannot unblock Mariupol. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with the French channel BFM TV.
"We don't know how many hours or how many days they can hold out there... As for our army, to come to these occupied 120 km today we are not allowed by the Russian Federation's equipment to reach the military unblocking of the city of Mariupol today. It's true, we can't do it today," Zelensky said.
Zelensky said that local people in Mariupol are now blocked, and they are children, elderly people, and military personnel.
"It's more like not a war, but such a terrorist operation by the Russian Federation against Mariupol and the residents of this city. All 95-98% of all buildings, everything there is destroyed there...," Zelensky noted.
Earlier, Zelensky reported that the unblocking of Mariupol can only take place by diplomatic means or with heavy armed assistance.
The defenders of Mariupol said that they hope for the city's de-blockade or the organization of evacuation through a third party.
According to the deputy commander of the Azov regiment, Svyatoslav Palamar, the fighters had an opportunity to talk to civilians who remain in Mariupol. He said that Mariupol residents did not want to leave the city through the corridor announced by Russia on April 20.