Abuses in Mariupol: Russia apparently worries about its reputation

In occupied Mariupol, the Russian occupiers are apparently proceeding in the same way as they have been accused of in many other places: According to US reports, they are looting houses and mistreating residents. Russian officials are also said to be concerned – and above all to have a specific concern.

The US has accused Russian forces of severe abuse in the port city of Mariupol. A US official said Russian soldiers “beat up” and “electrocuted” Ukrainian officials there. They would also “loot houses”. Russian officials are “concerned that these acts may further incite Mariupol residents to resist Russian occupation,” he said.

The US news agency AP reports something similar, citing US intelligence information. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russians feared the attacks would undermine Russia’s claims that they had liberated the Russian-speaking city.

The Mariupol city government said on Telegram that the Russians were trying to “put the trading port back in order to export grain, metal goods and other products worth millions of dollars.” It’s “theft”.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised people in the Russian-occupied territories that they would be freed. “Kherson, Melitopol, Berdyansk, Enerhodar, Mariupol and all our cities and towns that are under occupation, under temporary occupation, should know that Ukraine will return,” he said. How long this will take depends on the situation on the battlefield. “We’re trying to do it as soon as possible. We have an obligation to drive out the occupiers and guarantee Ukraine real security,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army said the “occupiers had attacked 43 towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.” “At least 15 civilians” were killed. According to a representative of the local administration, the Russians are trying to break through near Popasna and in the direction of Severodonetsk. In this context, the US Institute of War Studies (ISW) spoke of preparations for a major battle for Severodonetsk. By taking the city, the Kremlin would gain de facto control of the Luhansk region.

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