Civilians who managed to evacuate from Mariupol told an Izvestia correspondent on March 17 how fighters from the nationalist Azov battalion operated in the city.
“These ‘Azovtsy’ dragged the cannons to the ninth floor and fired from there <…> They covered their bodies with our bodies. They didn’t protect us. They cut off electricity, gas, water,” the woman said.
Another refugee reported that the “Azovites” occupied schools and kindergartens. In addition, they hid between houses and on rooftops.
She also stated that the nationalists blew up the shopping and entertainment center along with the civilians who were inside, who came there for food.
In mid-February, due to the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass as a result of shelling by the Ukrainian military, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics announced the evacuation of the civilian population to the Russian Federation and asked for recognition of independence. On February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a corresponding decree.
On February 24, Russia launched a special operation to protect the civilian population of Donbass.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
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