Ukrainian authorities announced on Monday morning that they would not open any humanitarian corridors. They accuse Russian forces of attacking civilians evacuated from the worst war zones.
– THE CAR PROTECTED: Ludmila says that five bullets came through the window on her side of the car. Photo: EBU / DR
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Ludmila, her husband and her 90-year-old father are among those who have experienced being shot while fleeing.
– They deliberately fired at our car with automatic weapons, Ludmila says to Danmarks Radio who meets her in the city of Zaporizhia.
– BULLET HOLE: There are clear traces of the shots, both on the car and on the people who sat in it. Photo: EBU / DR
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Ludmila has bandages around both hands. She lost two fingers during the escape.
– I feel completely miserable, but I do not want to cry. I do not want to cry over my fingers either, says the former nurse.
– BANDED: Ludmila, who previously worked as a nurse, lost two fingers when they were shot at by Russian soldiers. Photo: EBU / DR
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It could have been worse with the man. Ludmila says that one bullet cut his head.
– Do you want to say that it is most dangerous to stay in Mariupol, or to flee from there?
– To flee. But there is not much left of the city. There are only ruins and corpses, says Ludmila.
According to Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko, there are still around 160,000 people left in the city. They lack water, food, electricity and medicine.
– COMPLETELY DESTROYED: The besieged city of Mariupol is in ruins after the Russian attacks. Photo: Reuters / ALEXANDER ERMOCHENKO
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At least 5,000 people have lost their lives in the besieged city since Russia invaded, says a senior Ukrainian adviser, according to NTB.
“Around 5,000 people have been buried, but the burials stopped ten days ago due to ongoing bombing,” said Tetjana Lomakina, a presidential adviser who is now in charge of humanitarian corridors.
– BURNED CARS: Along the road out of Irpin are burnt out cars. Photo: UAPBC
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According to the UN, more than 10 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee after the invasion.
Viktor Lunkov (21) and his parents tried to flee, but they also experienced being shot by Russian soldiers when they were on their way out of Irpin, where heavy fighting has broken out.
– SO FATHER WILL BE KILLED: Viktor Lunkov was pulled out of the car he and his parents were in. Then he saw that the Russian soldiers shot and killed his father. Photo: UAPBC
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He says that he was pulled out of the car at a checkpoint, and that a Russian soldier asked if he wanted to live.
– I panicked, I do not remember what I answered him, Lunkov says.
He says that the soldier started shouting “why did you not stop?”.
– Then they fired, without warning.
The 21-year-old says he looked at his father who was in the car.
– He tried to breathe, but he was about to be suffocated by his own blood.
Lunkov says that the soldiers fired four shots at the windshield.
– They shot to kill, he states.
The father was killed and the mother seriously injured. The doctors who operated on her have said that they were only able to save her life.
– FATHER AND SON: Viktor Lunkov and his father pose smiling at a photo taken before the invasion of Ukraine. Photo: UAPBC
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Now he is trying to decide what is best for the two, to stay or to try to escape again.
– I am waiting for my mother to be moved, he says.
The plan is to move west in the country, possibly to Lviv, which is considered safer than the areas around the capital Kyiv.
With him he has only a memory of his father.
– I have his watch. I took it with me. I said I would take care of it, he says and shows the clock.
– MEMORY: Viktor Lunkov shows off the watch which is the only thing he has left after his father. Photo: UAPBC
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On Monday afternoon, the mayor of Irpin reports that Ukrainian forces have taken full control of the city. The allegations have not been confirmed independently.
– We understand that there will be more attacks on our city, and we will defend it bravely, he says according to Sky News.
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