The Azov Battalion, the neo-Nazi militia tasked with fighting the Russian army in the port city of Donetsk, has denounced an alleged chemical attack that has not been confirmed.
Authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, recognized by Moscow in the days before the invasion of Ukraine, have reported that Russian troops have the port of Mariupol . taken overone of two areas that remained in the hands of the Ukrainian militias.
“As for the port of Mariupol, it is now under our control,” said the leader of the area, Dennis Pushilinin conversation with Russian television.
Mariupol is considered an important conquest for Russia’s military interests, insofar as it would allow the country to continue its efforts to unite the Donbass areas with the Crimean peninsula. The city has been surrounded by Russian troops practically since the beginning of the invasion and with hardly any basic facilities.
The Mayor of Mariupol, Vadym Boychenkohas reported that between 20,000 and 30,000 people have been evacuated by Russian troops to Russian-controlled territory, according to the Ukrainian daily. Pravda
“Today we can talk about the evacuation of 50% of the inhabitants of Mariupol of the 540,000 people who lived here before the war,” he stated. With the war just beginning, and while train service was still running and the roads still usable, nearly 140,000 civilians managed to get out of Mariupol. The rest were evacuated through the humanitarian corridor.
More than 80 percent of the city’s buildings have been destroyed by the bombing and the remaining residents – estimated to be between 100,000 and 160,000 – have no water, gas, electricity or basic necessities.
The neo-Nazi militia Azov Battalion, integrated into the Ukrainian army since 2014, is in charge of the confrontation with Russian forces in Mariúpol. He accused Russia of using “a poisonous substance of unknown origin” in an attack on the city, Ukraine’s UNIAN agency said.
The US Department of Defense has taken over the Azov battalion’s message. “We are aware of social media reports that chemical weapons may have been used in Mariupol. We cannot confirm this at this time and will be monitoring the situation closely,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
