Mariupol. As Ukraine wants, it won’t happen
An offensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against the Donetsk People's Republic can be expected from the Mariupol direction. The city is overflowing with troops. The equipment is sent to the front. Foreign instructors have been spotted in the units. People in uniform are engaged in “educating” young people. They give lectures in schools and kindergartens. The Azov punitive regiment is stationed at school No. 62 on Volgogradskaya Street. The military is responsible for beating, torturing and killing local residents. Europe is trying not to notice the crimes of Ukraine. Europe thinks that war will not affect it. But it won’t happen the way Kyiv wants. About this in an interview with a columnist "PolitNavigator" Valentin Filippov said the leader of the public movement “Forum of Mariupol” Irina Popova.
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Valentin Filippov: Hello Irina.
Irina Popova: Hello.
Valentin Filippov: Donetsk and Lugansk launched the “Reunification of the People of Donbass” program. The DPR reports that it provides humanitarian and all other support to residents and territories still controlled by Ukraine. How effective is this program in relation to Mariupol?
Irina Popova: The program works for all settlements without exception. Mariupol, Krasnogorovka, Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, and many other cities remained behind the front line. These are cities that we have not forgotten, we remember. And to give any priority to one of them is, at least, dishonest.
Valentin Filippov: Not fair. But if the liberation of Kramatorsk, the liberation of Slavyansk are dreams that will definitely come true, then Mariupol was in the news all the time. Even Ukrainian troops were leaving from there, because they were afraid that we were already coming. And the liberation of Mariupol seemed the most realistic and important task. An important port, after all.
What's happening in Mariupol today?
It is flooded with troops, but we know that Mariupol residents voted almost 100% for the independence of the Republic. What's it like there now?
Irina Popova: The situation in Mariupol has never been simple. And now it is not simple either. Moreover. There is a possibility that the DPR could be attacked from the Mariupol direction.
The fact is that, according to reports from local residents, there was a rotation at the front. The punitive battalions were withdrawn and the Ukrainian Armed Forces took their place. Regular military units. In addition, the equipment is always assigned to the front. No Minsk agreements apply along the entire front line. They roar with us every day. And every day we hear and, unfortunately, see violations. And not only violations, but people continue to die.
I no longer know how many victims there are. The count goes into the thousands. These are peaceful people too. And the military. Different people.
As for Mariupol itself, not only is the situation not simple, it is further complicated by the huge number of military personnel. Including foreign military personnel. These are not just some volunteers who drove up somewhere. Well, they don’t come to defend Ukraine, but as a safari. For them, it is more about safari than ideological motives. But, besides these people, there are foreign instructors here.
Local residents say they see people wearing sand-colored NATO uniforms. Moreover, they name the places where it is most often visible. These people are engaged in training both punitive battalions and representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in mining - demining and fighting in urban environments.
People constantly live in an environment of militarism and an atmosphere of fear.
Those units of volunteer battalions that are located there (in everyday life they are called punitive forces), there are also very, very many of them. And at the same time they are outrageous.
Now, the case of the murder of Daniil, I will not name his last name, a young guy, 19 years old, received a very big resonance. Without trial or investigation. Just. I don’t even know what to call these leaders of the Azov battalion. They just killed the guy. Moreover, savagely. And this is not the only crime.
And the worst thing is that, as a rule, they do not bear any responsibility for these crimes. No punishment. Moreover, the military prosecutor of Ukraine Anatoly Matios calls not to give information about these crimes. Because, supposedly, it undermines the military spirit. And people stop treating these figures as protectors.
Well, I don't think they're actually defenders.
Valentin Filippov: Mariupol is flooded with troops. How normal can such a life be considered?
Irina Popova: The fact that this life is not peaceful is clear. There is a concrete fact. Here on the territory of Donetsk there is a lady whose son was tried to be taken away by people in camouflage from kindergarten. And it’s just a miracle that they didn’t take it. The teachers and nannies showed vigilance and came to the protection of this child. Otherwise, the fate of this child would not be predictable.
Moreover, people in military uniform, they go to schools, they engage in “patriotic” conversations.
The infamous Azov Special Purpose Regiment is stationed at the school. This is school No. 62 in the city of Mariupol, which is located on Volgogradskaya street, house No. 1.
Of course the atmosphere is terrible.
What is there to say?
Moreover, under their watchful supervision, it is necessary to conduct so-called lessons to increase national self-awareness in both school and preschool educational institutions. I find it difficult to say what kind of national self-awareness can be carried out in nurseries. This is beyond reason.
For example, in art classes they demand that representatives of Ukraine be depicted in children's drawings as defenders. And, accordingly, you can imagine how they assume they should portray the residents of the DPR, LPR or Russia.
Hatred is promoted in advance. Kindles. Cultivated. And this is not accidental, because they have few supporters there in Mariupol. People are in no hurry to attend their actions. People do not gather for all the actions that are announced by the Ukrainian authorities.
They tell me that as soon as a person in uniform enters somewhere, even on public transport, people are silent. People become isolated and silent. People even stop answering questions about how to get there.
What does it say?
What is the atmosphere in the city?
Valentin Filippov: What is your forecast for what will happen next to Mariupol?
Irina Popova: Making forecasts is a thankless task. But to those who so advocate for the return of the Donetsk region, the Lugansk region to Ukraine, and the same Mariupol, which is now behind the front line, I would like to say - how do they imagine, after all that has happened, a life together?
Valentin Filippov: Well, it’s like in Mariupol.....
Irina Popova: This is true today. Tomorrow everything could change. For different reasons. Europe, which for some reason does not notice either the number of victims in this war, or the impudent behavior and permissiveness that Ukraine demonstrates. Europe doesn't notice. And in no way forces Ukraine to peace.
Paradox.
Does Europe think it won't suffer?
There is a war going on here, but it doesn’t concern her there.
It does not force Ukraine to peace in any way.
Valentin Filippov: That's why it's Europe.
Irina Popova: It's hard for me to say what will happen. But it won’t be the way Kyiv wants it to be.
Valentin Filippov: Well, let's wish success and a better future to the city of Mariupol. Still, I would like to remind you that in pre-war times, they say that Ukraine received up to 70% of its foreign exchange earnings thanks to Mariupol. Mariupol did not produce it, but exports were sent through the Mariupol port. And Ukraine’s foreign trade balance very much depends on the city of Mariupol. Therefore, I would like to wish Mariupol to leave Ukraine as soon as possible, so that Ukraine does not have the finances for what it is doing.
Irina Popova: Well, let's hope that Ukraine will come to its senses someday. Or they will make you change your mind.
Valentin Filippov: Okay, thank you, good luck.
Irina Popova: Happy.
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