Mariupol besieged, but not fallen, says Ukrainian premier

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The besieged city of Mariupol has not fallen as Ukrainian troops are holding on in defiance of the Russian demand that they surrender, Ukraine's prime minister said on Sunday.

"The city still has not fallen. There (are) still our military forces, our soldiers, so they will fight until the end," Denys Shmyhal said in an interview with ABC's This Week program.

He also said Ukrainian soldiers continue to control some parts of the city, stressing there is no whole control of Mariupol, a strategic port city south of Ukraine, by Russian forces.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda that the situation is "very difficult" in Mariupol.

"Our military is blocked, the wounded are blocked. There is a humanitarian crisis … Nevertheless, the guys are defending the city."

In an interview with CNN on Friday, Zelenskyy said it is difficult to talk about civilian casualties as towns and cities south of Ukraine are blocked.

"… Kherson, Berdyansk, Mariupol further east, and the area to the east where Volnovakha is -- we just don't know how many people have died in that area that is blocked."

At least 1,982 civilians have been killed and 2,651 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war on Feb. 24, according to UN estimates, with the true figure believed to be much higher.

More than 4.8 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with over 7 million more internally displaced, said the UN refugee agency.