Thread by @AP

Since Russia’s war began in Ukraine, Mariupol has become encircled by Russian soldiers who are slowly squeezing the life out of it — one blast at a time.

For the estimated hundreds of thousands that remain, there is simply nowhere to go. apne.ws/K3ijf0r

The surrounding roads are mined, and the port blocked. Food is running out, and the Russians have stopped humanitarian attempts to bring it in.

Electricity is mostly gone and water is sparse, with residents melting snow to drink. apnews.com/article/russia…

Death is everywhere.

Local officials have tallied more than 2,500 deaths in the siege, but many bodies can’t be counted because of the endless shelling. They have told families to leave their dead outside in the streets because it’s too dangerous to hold funerals.

The southern seaport of 430,000, squarely in the path of Russia’s domination of Ukraine, has become a symbol of Vladimir Putin’s drive to crush democratic Ukraine — but also of a fierce resistance on the ground. apne.ws/K3ijf0r

Many of the deaths documented by the AP were of children and mothers, despite Russia’s claims that civilians haven’t been attacked.

Doctors say they are treating 10 civilians for every injured Ukrainian soldier. apne.ws/K3ijf0r

Serhiy Orlov, the deputy mayor, predicted worse is soon to come.

“Our defenders will defend to the last bullet,” he said. “But people are dying without water and food, and I think in the next several days we will count hundreds and thousands of deaths.”