The words and thoughts of those who remain in Mariupol.
As the sounds of the shelling began, the girl from the next block covered her head with her hands. " Mom, it flies," she babbled. "I cried, and it will fly away, right?"
Today, it did not fly away. For the first time since the siege began, the Russian missiles exploded in Kirov, the central districts of the city. From what I saw with my own eyes, it looks like our troops shot it down. There was a roar and bang from the sky. Then debris and thick smoke came pouring down.
Yesterday, Ukrainian Air defense shot down a plane that regularly bombed neighborhoods on the eastern side. It is important to note that for the first time since the Second World War, an enemy shell exploded in the historical area of Mariupol. This is why I believe the comparison of "Russian liberator" and "Russian fascist" is quite justified.
Yesterday, Stary Krym, the historical settlement of the Azov Greeks and a suburb of Mariupol, was shelled.
Unfortunately, the shelling of the Left Bank has become routine. People evacuated from there as best as they could. Some left on their own and others with the support of the mayor's office.
In some of the regions, there was no electricity for ten hours. There was no mobile connection until noon. The occupiers damaged the substations and aimed at the Kommunalnik enterprise. By evening, power was restored. Judging by the shelling of Kharkov, I am sure it will not last for long. Putin already gave the order: "There is no reason to play with civilians; we are destroying everything and everyone. Power plants, schools, factories, Ukrainians, Russian-speaking Ukrainians, Greeks, Jews, Belarusians ... everything and everyone in Ukraine."
Until noon, the residents of Mariupol moved on foot en masse. There are fewer cars. In markets and shops, the gait of the people is faster and more impetuous. As they search for products, they stay near bomb shelters to take cover.
Any shopping bag is a reason for people to ask questions. "What did you get," they ask. "Where did you get it? For how much? Do they have more?"
Bread is the product most in demand. Yesterday, the mayor's office launched the supply of "social bread," but I have not seen it.
Due to the lack of electricity, large retail chains were closed. There was no bread in the bread stall on the corner of Zelinsky and Prospekt Mira, but they had a variety of biscuits. The saleswoman didn't sell it. "I can't weigh it," she said almost crying. "I have an electric scale but there is no electricity."
Prices are rising. Today, potatoes in one store were sold for 30 UAH and beets were 40 UAH. Yesterday, I bought a bag of potatoes at the wholesale store for 13 UAH per kilogram.
A humanitarian catastrophe is inevitable if the occupying forces succeed in completely blockading the city. It will come quickly. The city has about half a million inhabitants and at least a third of them are old people.
It rumbled on all sides except the sea until evening. It is quiet now.
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