Much of the siege of Mariupol in March 2022 remained shrouded in mystery. New satellite images from Google now show how brutal Russia acted against the Ukrainian civilian population. They are testimonies of incredible atrocities.
Horrific scenes are known to have taken place in the port city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine. But an update of the satellite images on Google Maps sheds light on the extent of Russia’s destructiveness.
The Russian-occupied city is a desert of inhumanity: ruined buildings and smoke rising as far as the eye can see. Streets and green spaces littered with black craters and residential areas bombed to rubble. There seems to be nothing left of a once thriving metropolis on the Sea of Azov.
Image comparison shows extent of destruction
The city theater in Mariupol symbolizes the ferocity of the Russian offensive war, according to a before and after comparison by krone.at.
In March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack on the theater, on the anniversary of the bombing, one of Russia’s many war crimes. “The day will come when a tribunal will be established to restore justice to our people,” he promised. To this day it is not clear how many people who sought shelter in the theater died. “Hundreds? A thousand?” says Zelenskyj.
Probably hundreds dead
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch spoke of 500, the AP news agency came to the conclusion that about 600 were killed.
It is certain that even the youngest of Mariupol died in the theater. In front of the building it says “Children” in large Russian letters. A cry for help that was never answered. “The day will come when we will liberate Mariupol,” Zelenskyy said recently.
Russia says the incident was staged but has so far provided no evidence. Aid convoys tried to get the civilian population out of the city. The Red Cross described the three-month siege of Mariupol as “hell”. For weeks, civilians and soldiers were the last to stand in the huge Azovstal steelworks.
In mid-May 2022, the civilians were evacuated and the fighters of the Azov regiment surrendered. But Azovstal and the Mariupol Theater have become symbols of the Ukrainian resistance.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
