Ukraine

Ukraine: The Strategic Importance of Mariupol

This ruined city is apparently the key to the remnants of Putin’s plans, but why? Is the Kerch Bridge a bridge too far?

Image Source: As indicated, via BBC. 4th April 2022.

Mariupol is a key city in southeastern Ukraine that has great strategic importance to Russian President Putin. The city sits on the edge of the Sea of Azov, which leads to the River Don, a key waterway for Russia.

Since the initial outbreak of fighting in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Mariupol has been a key target for pro-Russian separatists. And now it is under siege by mainstream Russian armed forces.

The strategic importance of Mariupol to Putin and Russia was evident during negotiations over a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine in September 2014. Putin insisted that the ceasefire include a provision for Ukrainian forces to withdrawal from Mariupol, but this was ultimately not included in the final agreement.

The city has been a key stronghold for Ukrainian forces in the war and its continued control by Kyiv is essential to preventing a total Russian takeover of southeastern Ukraine.

And we’ve seen what’s happened since with a siege akin to that of Stalingrad in 1941. This drone footage has Reuters sourcing, apparently, visible top right…