Freedom Approaches for Mariupol Residents

by Stephen Lendman

Mariupol, Donetsk is virtually free from Nazified Ukrainian occupation — except for an estimated 2 - 3 thousand hardcore extremist fighters and likeminded mercenaries holed up in the city's sprawling Azovstal steel plant.

According to a Facebook posting by a Ukrainian commander inside the facility:

With no food, water and perhaps most ammo gone, the last Ukrainian stronghold in the city "may be facing (its) last days, if not hours."

Situation hopeless as "(t)he enemy (sic) is outnumbering us 10 to one."

So why haven't they laid down their arms and surrendered — notably since Russian forces guaranteed them "life" over certain death.

In stark contrast to how ruthlessly Azov and other Ukrainian Nazis treat Russian POWs — virtually torturing them to death while dismembering their bodies while alive — Russian forces treat Kiev POWs humanely.

They're fed, clothed and given medical treatment as needed.

True enough, ones guilty of war crimes will be prosecuted and imprisoned longterm doing hard time.

The alternative to surrender for Ukrainian forces inside Azovstal is death by Russian firepower, starvation and/or dehydration.

The obvious choice is declined because hegemon USA wants perpetual war on Russia to the last Ukrainian.

The Pentagon and CIA control Kiev forces.

Kiev has no say over all things related to Russia.

Trapped Ukrainian forces in Azovstal were warned against surrendering — no matter the dire alternative.

Elements surrendering who return home will be charged with treason and executed.

Despite twice offered and declined,  Russian Defense Ministry's National Defense Control Center head, General Mikhail Mizintsev again offered trapped Kiev forces in Azovstal a chance to lay down their arms, surrender and stay alive, saying:

"Despite the absence of any elementary actions on the part of the Kiev authorities to save the military personnel of their country, and also realizing the complete irresponsibility of officials of the Kiev regime for the predicted sad outcome of resistance in the remaining hearth of Mariupol, the Russian Armed Forces, guided by purely humane principles, again offer the militants…and foreign mercenaries to cease hostilities and lay down their arms from 14:00 Moscow time on April 20, 2022."

"The leadership of the Russian Federation guarantees the preservation of life, complete safety and the provision of qualified medical care to all those who laid down their arms."

"The Russian side guarantees compliance with the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war."

Like the previous one, the latest offer is being transmitted to trapped Kiev fighters every 30 minutes by radio channels.

On Tuesday, about 120 civilians held hostage as human shields by Ukrainian Nazis in Avovstal managed to escape captivity through a humanitarian corridor established by Russia from the plant.

Free at last, they began explaining the horror they endured throughout their long ordeal at the hands of their ruthless captors.

According to Donetsk authorities:

"Having used the proposal made by the DPR People's Militia and the Russian armed forces, five servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces laid down their arms and voluntarily left the territory of the Azovstal plant."

Perhaps their surrender will be followed by greater numbers.

Separately on Tuesday, pro-Western imperial tool Antonio Guterres ignored hegemon USA's responsibility for all things related to Ukraine, saying:

I "call on Russians and Ukrainians to silence the guns and forge a path to safety for so many at immediate risk." 

"The 4-day Easter period should be a moment to unite around saving lives and furthering dialogue to end the suffering in Ukraine."

What he called "the message of Easter" should be delivered to Washington, London, Paris, Berlin and Kiev, not Moscow.

Earlier he virtually blamed Russia for made-in-the-USA conflict — showing where he stands on all things related to Nazi-infested Ukraine.

Ignoring 8 years of Kiev aggression on Donbass, he called what's going on "absurd (sic)," adding:

Falsely calling Russia's special military operation "war," he said "continuing (it) is morally unacceptable, politically indefensible, and militarily nonsensical (sic)."

Like most of his predecessors, he was installed by hegemon USA to serve its interests.

As long as the Biden regime and key NATO vassal states want perpetual war on Russia, central European peace in our time will remain off the table.

Ukrainian forces will remain cannon fodder up against overwhelming Russian firepower.

Separately as ordered by dominant Biden regime hardliners, more US/EU sanctions are coming against Russia.

According to White House spokeswoman Psaki:

The Biden regime and its European vassals continue to "coordinate efforts to impose severe economic costs (on) Russia….including…through the G7, EU, and NATO."

At this time, EU regimes are discussing a total embargo of Russian oil.

Resisting the move so far, Germany said it'll plunge the continent into deep recession.

Hungary and Austria also oppose the move.

According to head of global commodities strategy at JP Morgan, Natasha Kaneva, brent crude could skyrocket by 65% to about $185 dollars a barrel if EU regimes ban imports of Russian oil.

A new round of US/EU sanctions will likely target Russian energy by further cutting imports.

France's Macron regime called for a total embargo on Russian oil.

At this time, EU regimes are still importing about $850 worth of Russian oil and gas daily.

The amount may be substantially cut by yearend.

What benefits Big Oil and other US corporate predators comes at the expense of EU economies.

Instead of recognizing and opposing the Biden regime's dirty game, EU sanctions war on Russia sanctions their own nations, enterprises and people.

Russia is entirely self-sufficient in food and energy, largely self-sufficient overall.

While sanctions impose costs on targeted nations, history shows that they don't work.

They haven't against North Korea throughout most of the post-

WW II period, Cuba for over 60 years, Iran for over 40 years or Venezuela for over 20 years.

They're largely shooting blanks against Russia.

EU nations imposing them are shooting themselves.