Zelenskyy about Mariupol defenders: I allowed them to leave the city, they refused

The Ukrainian military are staying in the besieged city of Mariupol and defending local residents from the Russian Army.

The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview with the Russian media.

According to Zelenskyy, Russian troops partially entered the city, where they could enter.

"But, there are some parts of the city, where they could not enter, as our defenders refused to respond to their calls. Moreover, the families of these defenders applied to me. I talked to these guys," Zelenskyy told.

Zelenskyy noted that every two days he is trying to keep in touch with Mariupol defenders.

"I am telling them: guys, I understand everything, we will definitely return… But, if you feel you need to be there, and you feel it is the right decision and you can survive, please do so. I understand what it looks like for the military. […] I offered them a choice. They replied: 'We cannot. The wounded are here. We will not leave the wounded'. Moreover, they told: 'We will not leave the fallen'. Thus, they are defending the city, defending the wounded, defending the fallen, whom they want to bury," Zelenskyy noted.

In his words, Mariupol is full of corpses. The bodies of Ukrainian citizens and Russian soldiers are lying on roads and streets, and there is no one to remove them. Zelenskyy told the Ukrainian side requested that the Russian military allow them to take the wounded and dead out of the city, but got a refusal.

A reminder that Russian troops have caused a massive humanitarian catastrophe in Mariupol. 90% of buildings in the city were destroyed. The Russian military are killing civilians and blocking humanitarian aid.