Explosions have now been confirmed near Mariupol, reports a number of western journalists including Will Vernon and Fergal Keane of BBC, Roland Oliphant of the Telegraph, and Shaun Walker of The Guardian. The press service of the DNR has also stated that they are storming the city.
Recall that yesterday Russia’s ambassador to the OSCE anticipated the “liberation” of the city by Russian-backed forces, falsely stating that the region was 90% “ethnic Russian” and that this would be “natural.” (the region is actually 38% Russian)
Sounds of shelling audible in #Mariupol
— Will Vernon (@BBCWillVernon) September 6, 2014
#Ukraine Definitely shelling outside Mariupol. Hear it loud and clear now.
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) September 6, 2014
#Ukraine shelling started at approx 2235 local and is continuing
— Fergal Keane (@fergalkeane47) September 6, 2014
Boom boom boom, audible from Mariupol centre
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Hmm so there are some pretty loud booms audible in central Mariupol… Ceasefire seeming a little less stable.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
#mariupol. Not a long ceasefire.Strong sound of shelling. Near East check-point.
— Nataliya Gumenyuk (@ngumenyuk) September 6, 2014
Heavy continuous shelling heard from the frontline between #Mariupol and #Novoazovsk.
— John Wendle (@johnwendle) September 6, 2014
Mariupol now, via @JuMistress pic.twitter.com/OggAFothbA
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) September 6, 2014
NOW: Shelling can be heard on the eastern outskirts of #Mariupol. Cease fire is obviously over now.
— Daria Sipigina (@DariaSipigina) September 6, 2014
@BBCWillVernon: Saw flashes and heard booms as shells landing on eastern edge of #Mariupol #Ukraine
— Will Vernon (@BBCWillVernon) September 6, 2014
Shelling — "as loud as ever" — is coming from Mariupol port area, according to my colleague Silver @meikar, who is there.
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) September 6, 2014
Listening to DNR radio. Presenters almost chuckle as they announce what they "believe to be storming of Mariupol …" pic.twitter.com/3RAE6v60KO
— Oliver Carroll (@olliecarroll) September 6, 2014
Eastern checkpoint hit. Tank just went straight into town don't know whose
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Those were Ukrainian tanks pulling back into city
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
https://twitter.com/press_dnr/status/508359309621985280
Translation: “Armed Forces of New Russia taking Mariupol.”
The official Donetsk rebel account @press_dnr says they're "taking Mariupol" #ceasefire (I'm still sceptical they'll come into town tonight)
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
Eastern checkpoint and nearby petrol station in flames. Local guess artillery, not mortars or grad.
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Fire towards #Mariupol is coming from Sakhanka halfway to #novoazovsk. So far strongest fire close to city.In the centre people walk
— Nataliya Gumenyuk (@ngumenyuk) September 6, 2014
Journos set off to Mariupol E checkpoint got across bridge by Azovstal, saw cars shot up – unclear by who – people dying from bullet wounds.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
As far as I understand from what officials there have said, the @press_dnr account is official. So DNR officially admits breaking ceasefire.
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
Doublespeak "@Liveuamap: Russian media: DNR claims that Ukrainian forces broke ceasefire. DNR media: We are taking Mariupol now"
— Mat Babiak (@MatBabiak) September 6, 2014
RIA quotes DPR sources as saying that the Ukrainians have seized Telmanovo near RU border. Too weird to believe. http://t.co/3YPQV5PTGV
— Leonid Ragozin (@leonidragozin) September 6, 2014
Didnt take them long to have a try MT @Henry_Langston: DNR commander claims there are plans to take Mariupol "at some point in the future"
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) September 6, 2014
After rebels @press_dnr tweet they're "taking Mariupol," leader Zakharchenko quoted as saying ceasefire's not being observed. Well, yeah
— Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) September 6, 2014
Minister of Internal Affair #Avakov says #Mariupol was shelled w #Grad BM-21 16times tonight http://t.co/1CKbYUVTUw pic.twitter.com/IWjDOstOcE
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) September 6, 2014
Aaaaand one more volley of something or other explosive. Bedtime
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) September 6, 2014
Russian a**holes!
If this is true, the Russian economy should be bankrupted. The West should cut all ties with Russian and find other markets. This is an outrage. Putin deserves our utter comtempt.
Gutless Western leaders, Do something. Arm Ukraine so it can defend itself. Forget about Putin’s nuclear weapons. We have them too. Help Ukraine stop this Hitler. TO WAR!
Please, NATO troops, take vacation in Ukraine! Help save this sovereign country from the invasion of Russian terrorist! Mariupol has firmly and publicly stated they do not want to be ‘liberated’! Those in the city have done what they could possibly do to protect and save themselves!
I’m spanish. Fuck you if you think I’m going to fight for your oligarchs, your nazis, your gas princess and your chocolate kings.
Next year I’m voting for a party (PODEMOS) to get Spain out of NATO, bunch of warmongers.
Having worked with the Spanish in Iraq i can honestly say good riddance. You are more trouble than you are worth. Except I hear Rota is very cool.
You people lost your balls a long time ago.
I hope that Catalonia business doesn’t get ugly. I am routing for the Catalonians.
Well that didn’t take long. Why do you make a cease fire then break it literally within minuets. Makes you wonder who’s really is runnning that cluster fuk.
I hope UA made the most of the breather.
Now hopefully the west realize what a bunch of clowns Putin is making of them and start taking it personal.
mURF PLEASE STOP GIVING THOSE FOOLS THAT MUCH CREDIT…THEY’VE KNOWN ALL ALONG WHAT RUSSIA IS DOING AND DON’T GIVE A SHIT OR ARE SUCH COWARDLY BASTARDS. I WANNA PUKE!!!
At some point even a court fool gets tired of being made a fool. Hopefully this will mean the sanctions are at least still on. The french and germans were already talking about repealing them.
I guess hope springs eternal. Especially naive, misguided, and selfish hope.
Sandy,please don’t all caps it makes you look like you are shouting all the time.
So wait – Russia went back on its word after lying through its teeth left and right about this conflict? You don’t say?
fUCK IT…usa NATO PUT FUCKING BOOTS ON THE GROUND YOU WORTHLESS, BASTARDS!!!!
This was predictable, but I thought they’d at least give a few days before they’d start again. So, with a heavy heart, I ask you to join me to prepare my husband’s Ukrainian military squad [as it seems I’m the only foreigner with a commanding officer in the Ukrainian army]. They lack everything, from socks all the way up to bullet-proof vests. Please visit https://www.facebook.com/ViktorsSquad for more information. “Like”, “Share” and/or donate as much as you can so they not only could defend themselves and Ukraine, but also be on the offensive and push back Russia, once and for all.
God speed to your brave husband.
Best regards from the US.
Thank you…
If the Ukrainians had JDAM kits the Bolshevik scum would run.Precision targeted weapons are imperative!
Petro ,enough with the ceasefire crap please!
This is a perfect example of why you don’t negotiate with terrorists. Ukraine needs to reinforce it’s position in Mariupol, pronto and kill every Kremlin aligned soldier that tries to invade it.
Last time the ceasefire lasted 10 days; this time looks like we got maybe 30 hours…..