蜜芽传媒

Russian forces are intensifying their attacks on cities around the country.聽 That includes areas to the north of the capital Kyiv but most of the fighting has been in cities in the south, along the coast.聽Mariupol, a port on the Sea of Azov, is a city of 400,000, and a key strategic target for Russia, because seizing it would allow Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine to join forces with troops in Crimea.

The city is now effectively under siege. Sergei Orlov. the city's deputy mayor, says they are experiencing a relentless barrage of Russian shelling and bombing that has cut off power and water supplies, but the Ukranian army are still defending the city and hope to restore the utilities. He thinks the city can hold out for several days.

Photo: A residential building, which locals said was damaged by recent shelling, in Mariupol, Ukraine Credit: Reuters