Mariupol Still in Ukraine's Control After Putin Claims Victory: Mayor

Mariupol's mayor Vadym Boychenko said the city was still in Ukrainian hands, after Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to claim victory in the strategic port earlier on Thursday, even as he ordered his troops not to storm the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the war’s iconic battleground.

"The city (Mariupol) was, is, and remains Ukrainian today. Because today, our brave warriors, our heroes, are defending our city as much as possible," Vadym Boychenko said at the Ukraine Media Center via videocall.

Boychenko said Russian forces were taking the bodies of killed Ukrainians to a mass grave in the town of Manhush.

He said the Russians were "hiding war crimes there"

Putin on Thursday claimed control over the Ukrainian port of Mariupol even as its defenders are still holding out at a giant steel mill.

Boychenko estimated that 300 to 1,000 residents of Mariupol are hiding in the Azovstal pant, but the exact number could not be determined.

He also said that only 80 people managed to evacuate from Mariupol on Wednesday.

Mariupol has been a key objective for Russia since the start of the Feb. 24 invasion.

Capturing the city would allow Moscow to establish a land corridor to Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014 and deprive Ukraine of a major port and prized industrial assets.

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[sedikesangary]

These politicians don't care about the life of their soldiers.

[bolshoyrusskiy]

Russia has full control of the area of Mariupol the Ukrainians only have a factory that has now been boarded up to prevent anyone from coming out so yes Mariupol is done.

[LateNightRewrites]

If by in control you mean totally surrounded and under an unbreakable siege then yes, yes it is

[jakekillebrew]

Wow!! This is incredible that people still think Mariupol is still in Ukrainian control...only the small factory and the tunnels underground are in control Mariupol is fallen don't feed lies

[miguelchigo]

C mon this lunatic is pure lying .. .need to be arrested. .

[mrashad]

This reminds of the Iraq information ministry, talking on TV about defeating Americans while city was burning behind him.

[dsta]

This guy seriously needs to get off TV and start getting the people out…

[timothy]

Well I have been following the battle of mariupol since day 1 and sir you are lying 😢
An actor will always be an actor

[bellamy]

Show evidence. Enough of this he said, she said. Just show proof.

[charleslloyd]

Yes Mariupol is still in the hands of Ukrainians. Ethnic Russian Ukrainians. A hundred thousand of them did not flee. As the mayor did.

[dontchastop]

It's not under Ukrainian control. There are around 1, 000 or more Azov, foreign mercenaries, and perhaps some kidnapped civilians inside the Azovstoll Steel works.

[mikiko]

This mayor fled the city in 2 days after this war started. This guy became one of propagandist of Kiev. City of Mariupol has a new interim Mayor the remaining residents voted.

[indiopaul]

Yes you won with you men stuck in the catacombs and under Russian mercy

[brianv]

When you lost, but don't want to admit it...

[victorc]

Russian Flags Flying all over Ukraine and this guy acting like Baghdad Bob.

[ProjectHyena]

Hahaha....lol I can't believe this!. If the city was not taken by the Russians, why aren't you not in your office??

[MegaTamarra]

Oh my God! He is totally delusional. 🤦‍♀️

[danielspodcastseries]

If Mariuple is under Ukrainian Control, why are 2, 000 Ukrainian Troops hunkered down in a Steel Factory surrounded? 🤔

[Bigbluecollector]

This dude talks just to hear his own voice like the whole world doesn’t know that Mariupol is Russia now

[dupe]

Theyre surrounded. With no food or water. It's pretty obvious they're just waiting them out