The US has accused Russian forces of severe abuse in the embattled port city of Mariupol. A US official said on Wednesday that Russian soldiers had “beaten up” and “electrocuted” Ukrainian officials there. They would also “loot houses”. Russian officials are “concerned that these acts may further incite Mariupol residents to resist Russian occupation,” he said.
The Mariupol city government said on Telegram that the Russians were trying to “put the trading port back in order to export grain, metal goods and other products worth millions of dollars.” It’s “theft”.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army said that the “occupiers attacked 43 towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions”. At least 15 civilians were killed.
According to a representative of the local administration, the Russians are trying to break through near Popasna and in the direction of Severodonetsk. In this context, the US Institute of War Studies (ISW) spoke of preparations for a major battle for Severodonetsk. By taking the city, the Kremlin would gain de facto control of the Luhansk region.
Bild: Keystone
