Mariúpol accumulates thousands of deaths while its port begins to operate

At least 22,000 residents of Mariupol (southeast) died during the three months of bombardment and siege by Russian troops on that coastal city of Ukrainewhose port, however, registers activity again.

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The mayor’s adviser, Petro Andriushchenko, graphically said that “Mariupol is now a city of ghosts”.

Speaking to CNN, Andriushchenko pointed out that this death toll is based on calculations that he and other city officials have made through contacts they have with other municipal workers who are still trapped in the city.

However, he added that the real number of deceased could be much higher and that the process of burying the dead has been complicated, since the recovered bodies must first go through the morgue and be claimed by someone from the Russian forces that control the city.

The port is back in business

Russia assured today that the port of Mariúpol returns to operate “normally” after the demining of the terminal and the adjacent coastal areas, the Ministry of Defense indicated.

According to Russian media, in Mariupolon the shores of the inland Sea of ​​Azov, more than 12,000 explosive devices were neutralized.

Russia announced on April 21 the partial capture of Mariúpol after weeks of brutal siege and on May 20 the complete fall of the city after the surrender of more than 2,400 Ukrainian defenders who remained in the Azovstal steel mill.

This announcement comes after the head of the Russian National Defense Control Center, General Mijaíl Mizíntsev, stated the day before that measures are being taken to restore the port infrastructure of Mariupol.

He also announced the opening of a humanitarian corridor this Wednesday from that port, starting at 05:00 GMT, for “the safe departure of foreign ships” in the direction of the Black Sea.

Talks

kyiv’s conditions for the resumption of negotiations with Moscow, which include the Russian withdrawal to the positions before February 24, are not constructive, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said today.

“We cannot qualify this statement as constructive. We would like to recall that Ukraine actively participated in the negotiations from the first day of the special operation and did not set any conditions,” said the Russian diplomat, commenting on recent statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Ukrainian president made these statements in an interview with the Japanese public television channel NHK, assuring that “without a doubt we must recover all our territories” currently under Russian control.

“If Ukraine now sets these conditions, it forces us to doubt the sincerity of its desire to find a peaceful solution,” Rudenko replied.

On the other hand, Russia today declared its readiness to negotiate a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea for grain ships blocked in Ukrainian ports.

“More than once we have declared that the solution of the food problem requires a global approach, which has to do with the lifting of sanctions on exports and financial transactions,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei told a group of journalists. Rudenko, quoted by the Interfax agency.

He added that, in addition, Ukraine must demine all the ports where the ships are located.

The deputy foreign minister refuted reports in the West that the Russian military is stealing grain from Ukrainian ports they control.

One aspect of the contacts is the eventual prisoner swap, which Russia will only discuss with Ukraine after a court has tried and sentenced the Ukrainian defenders who turned themselves in, Andrei Rudenko said.

China’s role

the ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskytoday expressed satisfaction with China’s “status quo” policy regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“That is better than helping Russia… I would like to believe that China will not adopt a different policy behind its back. That is why we are satisfied with this status quo, I mean it sincerely”, she affirmed during his virtual participation in a “Ukrainian breakfast” within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

On whether China can play any role in pressuring Russia towards an end to the war, Zelensky He said, “I’m not sure China does.”

Source: Elcomercio

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