i don t think the fight is over. it will be over some day perhaps in the next few days but the fact that use ukraine forces have held onto their position much longer than anybody at anticipated is having a significant operational effect, because it is tying down many thousand russian forces and russian affiliated forces who could otherwise be redeployed northwards for the main battle but is now starting, the battle for donbas. that is really important because russian resources are not unlimited. i lost a lot of equipment and people in the campaign any north, a failed campaign to take kyiv in the north, the remnants of that force are being redeployed for the battle for donbas and it makes a real difference. the defenders of mariupol having lasted so long as we
thousand russian forces in russian affiliated forces who could otherwise be redeployed northwards for the main battle that is now starting, the battle for donbas. that is really important because russian resources are not unlimited. they lost a lot of equipment and a lot of people in the now failed campaign to take care of in the north. they re taking it to their duck battle for donbas and it makes a real difference, so the defence of mariupol having lasted so long has really made a significant contribution to the overall war effort even if eventually they are overwhelmed. we effort even if eventually they are overwhelmed. effort even if eventually they are overwhelmed. we talk about this battle for donbas, overwhelmed. we talk about this battle for donbas, the overwhelmed. we talk about this battle for donbas, the new - overwhelmed. we talk about this l battle for donbas, the new russian strategy really focusing their attention on the east. is that what they are doing now? becaus
we believe only in the military ability we believe only in the military ability of we believe only in the military ability of mariupol, that s why our president ability of mariupol, that s why our president has asked for weapons, hard artillery tanks and armoured vehicles hard artillery tanks and armoured vehicles to, as i heard, the ukrainian vehicles to, as i heard, the ukrainian army has potential to make this operation, but we need weapons as soon this operation, but we need weapons as soon as this operation, but we need weapons as soon as possible. the blockade of mariupol has now lasted more than 50 days far longer than the russians ever expected and it s had a big impact on russia s military strategy overall. here s one defence expert on that. the fact that those ukraine forces have held on to their position much longer than anybody had anticipated is having a significant operational effect, because it is tying down many thousands russian forces and direction of af