Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a special operation to“demilitarize and denazify Ukraine” in the early hours of February 24. Following this statement, Russian soldiers entered Ukrainian territory and unleashed an unprecedented war, which to date has left 331 civilians dead, according to the UN.

Ukraine and Russia have been in a military escalation for a week, while the West is imposing sanctions against the Putin government and sending aid to the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky. Although there have been attempts at negotiations between the parties involved, first on February 28 and a second round on March 3, favourable results have not yet been obtained.

The strategic port city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine is facing a “blockade” and “relentless” attacks by Russian forces, Mayor Vadim Boitchenko said on Saturday, calling again for a humanitarian corridor to be allowed in the place.

“We are looking for solutions to humanitarian problems and all possible means to get Mariupol out of the blockade,” the local president said in a message posted on the city government’s Telegram account.

“Our priority is to reach a ceasefire so that we can recover vital infrastructure and install a humanitarian corridor to bring food and medicine to the city,” he added.

The capture of this city of 450,000 inhabitants, located on the edge of the Sea of Azov, would be a major twist in the Russian invasion of Ukraine because it would connect Russian forces on the occupied Crimean peninsula with pro-Russian separatist troops in eastern Ukraine.

“I believe that this coordinated work of all power verticals will be successful and we will get the long-awaited respite and be able to carry out a humanitarian mission. Details about this will be tomorrow morning,” Boitchenko explained.

In addition, he noted that the “Ukrainian Armed Forces, National Guard, Azov Regiment, Marines, border guards, police and rescuers are standing on the outskirts of the city.”

“On the ninth day of the war, our defenders did not allow the invaders to enter Mariupol. On the ninth day, they defend our right to live on their land. Thank you, you are our heroes. Together we will definitely resist, we will definitely win. Glory to Ukraine!” closed the statement.

Last Thursday, the mayor of Mariupol accused Russian troops of wanting to besiege the city by destroying bridges and trains to prevent residents from leaving.

“For five days our hometown, our family of half a million inhabitants, has suffered relentless attacks,” wrote the local president, who called for maintaining the resistance.

He assured that the city is defended by units of the Ukrainian army, the National Guard, the ultranationalist Azov regiment, border guards and the marine infantry.

Last Thursday, Russia and Ukraine agreed on the need to create humanitarian corridors to help civilians escape the fighting, the first apparent breakthrough in the talks. But it seems that little progress has been made since then in its application.

Some Mariupol residents have fled to the city center to escape heavier shelling on the outskirts, said 30-year-old businessman Ivan Yermolayev, who has holed up in the small basement of his city home and lined up to get water from a local well.