take a look at this video. you can see from the ground civilians trapped trying to survive. the commander of the 36 marines brigade holed up in that steel plant with mariupol s defenders say they will not surrender and could be facing their last days. watch. in addition to military personnel, there are also civilians that have fallen victim to this war. we appeal and plead to all world leaders to help us. the major tagged president biden in that post. from the sky, you can see devastation. putin s bombers seek to level that city. if mariupol falls, neil, that gives russia the land bridge that they have long sought and free up more groups to join the donbas offensive, which is under way and terrain russia is familiar with after eight years of fighting there. the pentagon says russia has 78
russian advances elsewhere. and the statement also notes that russia is targetting populated areas within mariupol, despite earlier saying it would not do so. joining me now is the military analystjustin crump, ceo of sibylline, a country risk advisory company and justin is also a former british army tank commander. welcome, thank you forjoining us. if as seemed likely, seems likely, mariupol falls, what difference will that make? it mariupol falls, what difference will that make? , ., ., ., that make? it is going to matter in a coule that make? it is going to matter in a topple of that make? it is going to matter in a couple of ways. that make? it is going to matter in a couple of ways. i that make? it is going to matter in a couple of ways. i think that make? it is going to matter in a couple of ways. i think first - that make? it is going to matter in a couple of ways. i think first of i a couple of ways. i think first of all whenever it does fall, tenacious defence has encou
so now this is the final battle for them. they have to make a symbolic victory. they will be trying to do this but my president is absolutely right. our forces will right to the end. they know how to future. they will definitely win. as you know, the u.s. says the city of mariupol is still contested with ukrainians fighting very hard right now. how big of a blow will it be if mariupol falls? well, yes, ukrainian armed forces are still there in mariupol. and they are struggling. they will fight to the last drop of their blood. and my president is absolutely, absolutely supporting the armed forces, and you know, in one of his last interviews, he said if russians were going to kill our ukrainian soldiers, that will be an end to any possible negotiations which ukraine is still ready to hold.
Russia told Ukrainian forces fighting in the besieged southern port of Mariupol to lay down their arms starting 6 a.m. Moscow time (0300 GMT) on Sunday to save their lives.
to defend the city to the end? helena wilkinson, bbc news. we arejoined by we are joined by the former security adviser. we heard there that it is a key day firm mariupol could you begin by explaining why this is a key city for the russians? t es. key city for the russians? yes, mariu ol key city for the russians? yes, mariupol lies key city for the russians? yes, mariupol lies in key city for the russians? yes, mariupol lies in the key city for the russians? yes, mariupol lies in the crucial i key city for the russians? ye: mariupol lies in the crucial part of ukraine that is between the don bass, what we have been talking about a lot, the east of ukraine, and the crimean peninsula, so if russia wants to link up the dunbar s and crimea with a land corridor, then it s got to dominate mariupol, it s like a plug in the corridor, and until they can take it, they can t link up the east and crimea. in terms of what comes next, if and when mariupol falls, as are lookalikes in media i