Russia Lays Siege to Major Ukrainian Seaports and Cities
Data provided by the Institute for the Study of War with AEI’s Critical Threats Project as of March 3, 2022 at 3 pm ET. Photo: Renée Rigdon/ CNN
It has been nine days since Russia invaded the territory, sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine. Russian troops advanced from the areas of two self-proclaimed republics, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic, and Belarusian border, primarily aiming at Kharhiv and Kyiv. While Kyiv is continuing to repel the attacks, Russian forces managed to take over two major regions and cities in Ukraine - Kherson and Mariupol.
Both cities are strategically located. Mariupol has direct access to the Sea of Azov, whereas Kherson is by the shore of the Dnieper River which exits into the Black Sea and connects the two with already seized Crimea. Not only is it a crucial annexation from geopolitical and military perspective, but it is also an extremely dangerous situation for more than 300,000 inhabitants of Kherson and 400,000 of Mariupol. If the situation continues to escalate with troops continuing to advance further into Ukraine, the region of Odessa may be severely endangered as well. Russian control over Odessa would entirely cease access to the Black Sea for Ukraine, and significantly isolate the country from the international market and economy.
According to The Guardian, a US defense official claimed that Russians do not have full control over Kherson yet; however, the city’s mayor, Ihor Kolykhaeiv, opposed that statement and urged residents in his Facebook post to obey the curfew imposed by Russian forces that he referred to as “armed visitors.” In order to prevent mass panic in the city, he further explained that he has made no promises to the aggressor, but he asked that they allow the city to function normally and not shoot civilians.
While it is reasonable of the official to avoid fear-inducing claims, it is necessary to consider what the reality looks like. As of today, Russian military in Kherson have not adjusted according to the mutual Ukrainian-Russian agreement on a temporary cease-fire, that would allow humanitarian aid to arrive in the city and people to evacuate safely. As described by the regional governor, Gennady Laguta, Putin’s military is denying Ukrainian trucks with aid, explaining that “they will provide the aid themselves.” This statement was further emphasized by the secretary of the city council, Galina Luhova, who told The Washington Post during a phone interview that they are running very low on food. A lot of areas of Kherson do not have access to running water or electricity anymore.
Residential building in Mariupol after Russian bombardment. Photo: Evgeniy Maloletka/Associated Press
The situation does not seem to be better in the city of Mariupol that has been attacked for the past five days. Constant bombardment of schools, stores and hospitals have left the population of this southern city without access to water, electricity and heating. Moreover, the stores are continuously emptying, as the Russian troops maintain control over the port that used to be the main point of food and supply delivery.
Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor’s office, accused Russian troops of creating food instability and forcing people into hunger, in a similar fashion to Leningrad during the Second World War. The city’s mayor, Vadym Boychenko, called for military support, as Russian troops seem to be losing a lot of their initial strength, and also called for reinforcement. At this point, saving Mariupol is essential to prevent the establishment of a land corridor that would connect already annexed Crimea to the mainland of Ukraine.
On March 3, the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees confirmed that over 1 million people have left Ukraine. As people from the central parts of the country continue to flee and seek refuge in neighboring states, the situation for seaside residents is not the same. With no humanitarian aid being permitted and attacks increasing in frequency and power, tensions and fear among southern Ukrainians are escalating. As put by French President Emmanuel Macron, who spent 90 minutes talking to Putin yesterday, they are not going to stop anytime soon because in his opinion, the, “worst is yet to come” as Russia seems to aim for a general takeover of the entire Ukrainian territory.