Fierce clashes continue on the streets of the city of Mariupol. The main battlefields are the industrial areas in the city. The main front lines lay in the 20th microdistrict of the city. All the industrial facilities were set on fire. Fierce artillery battles continue.
Mariupol was one of the main industrial centers of Ukraine, with dozens of large industrial facilities. The destruction of these facilities will have a significant impact on the economies of the DPR or Ukraine. As the DPR are aimed to avoid the complete destruction of the facilities the airstrikes or missile attacks have not been confirmed in the region so far.
The destruction of the nationalist militants in the Azovstal plant has not been confirmed so far. The plant remains the main stronghold of the Azov militants in the city. Chechen forces were deployed in the area to support the liberation of the large plant. However, no successes have not been reported so far.
Last night, Ukrainian assault groups reportedly attempted to counterattack the local airport, which had been taken under Russian control the day before. DPR sources claimed that the attack was repelled, the airport is still under their control.
On March 20, the Azov members reported that 4 ships of the Russian Navy hit their positions in Mariupol. The claims are yet to be confirmed by Russian officials. If confirmed, the deployment of the Russian fleet in Mariupol may mark a new stage of the mop up operations in the city. The increased activity of the DPR assault groups was reported in the southern districts of the city, in the area of the city embankment. Previously, the Russian cargo ship was hit by Ukrainian rocket in the Sea of Azov. The deployment of the Russian warships may mean that the southern regions of the city were secured by the DPR troops. Strikes by the Russian Navy may target the large industrial facilities in the city, aiming the elimination of large groups of nationalist forces. This could be the end point in the liberation of the city.
DPR forces claimed control over several regions, but clashes break out all around the city. Members of the Azov nationalist battalion are sharing their victories on the social networks.
A group of Russian military reporters were hit by Ukrainian forces in the central district of Mariupol . No casualties were reported. The reporters are usually working in the secured areas in the rear. Such an attack is yet another confirmation that even the areas that were previously taken by Russian and DPR forces are yet to be secured, and attacks by Ukrainian groups continue throughout the city.
Meanwhile, on the city outskirts, mass evacuation continues. In the city, DPR forces are securing civilian evacuation street by street. Most of civilians were forced to stay in crowded basements for more than two weeks. People continue to testify about the war crimes committed by the Azov militants. Today, they confirm that Azov members killed civilians, shelled on the civilian houses when leaving the areas, and did not inform civilians about any evacuation from the war-torn city.
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