Now the city, where 400 thousand residents are blocked without water, electricity, almost without food and medicine is the most heated point on the map of military actions in Ukraine. Russian troops are trying to starve out this southern Ukrainian stronghold in order to capture it. There is a purposely created humanitarian disaster: "green corridors" to the city are blocked, evacuation of citizens prevented, humanitarian cargos are stopped and looted. Russian "liberators" level the city from above daily.

Since the beginning of a full-scale invasion in Ukraine, invaders have dropped on Mariupol almost a hundred bombs (only during the last 24 hours city has been bombed more than twenty times). The press-service of Mariupol city council in their Telegram channel reported today 2187 killed citizens. 

It is said that the threat from above is the most severe for 400 thousand citizens of Mariupol… "Closing the sky over Ukraine by NATO or supplying the necessary anti-air defense systems is the solution that can save hundreds of thousands of innocent lives all over Ukraine'' the message from Mariupol city council says. 

Putin's troops cynically and deliberately aim at civilian buildings, concentrations of people, destroy children's hospitals, maternity homes, and completely destroy municipal infrastructure. This is confirmed by new satellite images of Mariupol from Maxar Technologies dated March 12. 

Pope Francis in his address to the faithful called Mariupol "a city of martyrs". 

"Brothers and sisters, we have just prayed to the Virgin Mary. This week, the city that bears her name, Mariupol, has become a city of martyrs in the terrible war ravaging Ukraine. Before the barbarism of killing children and innocent and defenseless citizens, no strategic reasons hold: the only thing to be done is to cease the unacceptable armed aggression before cities are reduced to cemeteries" the pontiff said according to Vatican Radio.

He wished that in the name of God, the cries of those who suffer were heard and the bombings and attacks ceased. And also he urged to make a real and decisive focus on negotiation and effectiveness and safety of humanitarian corridors. 

"In the name of God, stop this massacre!" Pope Francis called.