“It Is Not Possible Now to Relieve Mariupol by Military Means,” Ministry of Defense

Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defense, made this statement during her briefing at Media Center Ukraine — Ukrinform.

“Had there been at least a single opportunity to deblock the besieged city by military means, the government would have used it. Ukraine’s Armed Forces are doing their best to improve the situation,” she said.

The Deputy Minister emphasized that Mariupol is being defended by Ukraine’s Armed Forces, border guards, the National Guard and National Police officers: “We need to realize that it is a very sensitive topic, and the enemy can use any uttered word to harm our defenders.”

She also added that civilians could be evacuated from Azovstal Steelworks with the UN mediation and through the efforts of Mariupol’s defenders.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news