For the first time since the beginning of armed aggression, russia bombed Mariupol with long-range Tu-22N3 bombers.
Defense Ministry press officer Oleksandr Motuzianyk told this at a briefing at the Ukraine Media Center.
According to him, there are battles in the Mariupol near the Illich steel mill and at the seaport. The city is attacked by russian Su-24M and Su-34 bombers, as well as the aforementioned Tu-22N3.
“The situation in Mariupol is complicated with the russian army constantly recruiting additional units to storm the city. There are heavy battles near the Illich steel mill. Units are storming the port area of Mariupol, but the russians have not yet succeeded in occupying the city completely. The city was attacked by russian Su-24M and Su-34 bombers,” Motuzianyk said.
According to the Defense Ministry press officer, on April 14 the crews of two russian strategic bombers TU-95/160 launched cruise missiles on the territory of our country from the airspace of the Krasnodar region of russia.
Oleksandr Motuzianyk told that the russian army tried to break the defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Luhansk region near the cities of Rubizhne and Popasna and in the areas of Izyum-Sloviansk and Izyum-Barvinkovo. The occupiers continue to partially siege Kharkiv, shelling it with artillery.
“It is possible that in the future the enemy will try an offensive in the direction of Severodonetsk, Sloviansk and Volnovakha to set up conditions for cordoning off and destroying the disposition of our troops,” the Defense Ministry press officer said.
According to Motuzyanyk, there remains a threat of missiles and airstrikes on the territory of Ukraine. Three carriers of sea-launched cruise missiles “Kalibr” were detected in the Black Sea.
The mayor of Mariupol stated that 90% of Mariupol's critical infrastructure has been damaged in one way or another. 60% of them are infrastructure that has received direct hits from either aircraft, MLRS, or flamethrowers. 40% of critical infrastructure will be impossible to restore.
The commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, Major Serhiy Volyna, calls on the authorities to break the siege of Mariupol as soon as possible, either militarily or politically.