Changes

On March 23, 2022 it was reported that what remained of the Azov Battalion was pinned down by Chechen fighters in the steel plant in the eastern portion of the city.<ref>https://youtu.be/6uMGMgZvWLo</ref>  Azov, which originally consisted of about 14,000 fighters, was whittled down to about 6,000. They were cut off from NATO resupply of weapons and ammunition, without water, food, fuel or electricity.  Many were either killed in Mariupol, or escaped posing as civilians through humanitarian corridors. Some dressed as women to escape.<ref>https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/03/24/ukrainian-soldier-mariupol-video/</ref>  Azov fighters, like their Nazi SS forebearers, are all tattooed and easily identifiable when captured.  The International Red Cross agreed to deliver humanitarian relief and investigate Ukrainian war crimes, but according to reports was held up by Ukrainian attacks on Red Cross supply trains.

On March 23, 2022 it was reported that what remained of the Azov Battalion was pinned down by Chechen fighters in the steel plant in the eastern portion of the city.<ref>https://youtu.be/6uMGMgZvWLo</ref>  Azov, which originally consisted of about 14,000 fighters, was whittled down to about 6,000. They were cut off from NATO resupply of weapons and ammunition, without water, food, fuel or electricity.  Many were either killed in Mariupol, or escaped posing as civilians through humanitarian corridors. Some dressed as women to escape.<ref>https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/03/24/ukrainian-soldier-mariupol-video/</ref>  Azov fighters, like their Nazi SS forebearers, are all tattooed and easily identifiable when captured.  The International Red Cross agreed to deliver humanitarian relief and investigate Ukrainian war crimes, but according to reports was held up by Ukrainian attacks on Red Cross supply trains.

On April 8, the Russians took control of the port of Mariupol.  All hostages, including foreigners, were released. The Ukrainians had mined the harbor.  The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that radio intercepts showed a significant number of foreign mercenaries carried out communications in six other [[European]] languages.  It was estimated  there were at least about 100 foreign fighters.  The ministry spokesman stressed that the forces trapped in Mariupol are not the celebrated "defenders of so-called European values, but foreign mercenaries, who have come here to kill [[Slav]]s for [[American]] [[dollar]]s while hiding behind a human shield of civilians."

On April 8, the Russians took control of the port of Mariupol.  All hostages, including foreigners, were released. During the Ukrainians retreat from the port they had burnt all the grainery storage facilities.<ref>https://en.news-front.info/2022/06/06/ukrainian-armed-forces-set-fire-to-tonnes-of-grain-in-mariupol-port-during-retreat/?</ref>  The Ukrainians had mined the harbor.  The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that radio intercepts showed a significant number of foreign mercenaries carried out communications in six other [[European]] languages.  It was estimated  there were at least about 100 foreign fighters.  The ministry spokesman stressed that the forces trapped in Mariupol are not the celebrated "defenders of so-called European values, but foreign mercenaries, who have come here to kill [[Slav]]s for [[American]] [[dollar]]s while hiding behind a human shield of civilians."

On April 16, 2022 the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the liberation of residential areas and summarized the situation in Mariupol:<ref>https://youtu.be/LqZ8ltN5xr8</ref>

On April 16, 2022 the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the liberation of residential areas and summarized the situation in Mariupol:<ref>https://youtu.be/LqZ8ltN5xr8</ref>