Watch: Mariupol's last defenders ambush Russian troops in ...

Ukrainian soldiers have launched a courageous counterattack in Mariupol despite "overwhelming" numbers of Russian forces around the besieged ... Jumptocontent By JamieJohnson inWashington 18April2022•8:06pm UkrainiansoldiershavelaunchedacourageouscounterattackinMariupoldespite"overwhelming"numbersofRussianforcesaroundthebesiegedcity,newvideoshows. FootagetakenfromtheairappearstoshowagroupofUkrainiansoldiersmakingtheirwaythroughthecity,engaginginafirefightwithRussiantroops,pinningthemdownandthrowinggrenadesattheirposition. Mariupolhasbeenunderattackformorethan50days,butDenysShmyhal,theUkrainianprimeminister,hasvowedto"fightabsolutelytotheend". Thelastknownpocketofresistanceisagroupofaround500UkrainianfightersfromtheAzovbattalionholedupinasteelplant.TheyignoredanultimatumfromtheRussiansonSundaytosurrenderorbekilled. "Thecitystillhasnotfallen,"MrShmyhalsaid."Thereisstillourmilitaryforces,oursoldiers,sotheywillfightuntiltheend.Andasfornow,theystillareinMariupol." ImagesreleasedbytheUkrainiansbutnotindependentlyverifiedshowtheirtroopspinningdownagroupofRussiansoldiersandtossinggrenadesoverabrickwall.SomeRussianswriggleawayfromtheblastswhileothersliemotionless. "ThedefenceofMariupolcontinues.Despitetheoverwhelmingforcesoftheenemy,theAzovRegimentfighterslaunch[a]counter-attack,"anaccountlinkedtothebattalionsaidonTwitter. JustinCrump,amilitaryexpertatsecurityconsultancySybilline,toldtheBBCtherecouldbe500to800Ukrainiantroopsholdingoutinthecity. "It[thesteelworks]hasnuclearbunkers,tunnels,it'sbuilttosurviveanuclearconflict-theyarereallywellsetfordefence,"hesaid."Theyhavehadmorethan50daystofortifyitandbuildescaperoutes.  "Isuspectthatunlesstheyarewipedoutthey'llbetherealongtime.It'scredibletherewouldbeguerrillaresistance." ForRussia,thecaptureofMariupolisseenasakeystepinpreparationsforanyeasternassaultbecauseitwouldfreeRussiantroopsupforthatnewcampaign.  Thefallofthecity,ontheSeaofAzov,wouldalsohandRussiaitsbiggestvictoryofthewar,givingitfullcontrolofalandcorridortotheCrimeanPeninsula,whichitseizedin2014,anddeprivingUkraineofamajorportanditsindustrialassets. OnMonday,theUKMinistryofDefencesaidinanintelligenceupdate:"RussiancommanderswillbeconcernedbythetimeitistakingtosubdueMariupol.ConcertedUkrainianresistancehasseverelytestedRussianforcesanddivertedmenandmateriel,slowingRussia'sadvanceelsewhere. "TheefforttocaptureMariupolhascomeatsignificantcosttoitsresidents.Largeareasofinfrastructurehavebeendestroyed,whilstthepopulationhassufferedsignificantcasualties. "ThetargetingofpopulatedareaswithinMariupolalignswithRussia’sapproachtoChechnyain1999andSyriain2016.ThisisdespitetheFeb24claimsofRussia'sdefenceministrythatRussiawouldneitherstrikecitiesnorthreatentheUkrainianpopulation." AmanwalkspasttheruinsofaresidentialbuildinginMariupol Credit:AlexanderErmochenko/Reuters OnMonday,aUkrainianmarinecommanderonthegroundsharedalettertoPopeFrancispleadingforhelp,declaringthatthecity"iswhathellonEarthlookslike".  "Youhaveprobablyseenalotinyourlife,"MajorSerhiyVolyna,ofthe36thSeparateMarineBrigade,wrote."ButIamsurethatyouhaveneverseenthethingsthatarehappeningtoMariupol,becausethisiswhathellonEarthlookslike. "IhavelittletimetodescribeallthehorrorsIseehereeveryday.Womenwithchildrenandbabiesarelivinginbunkersatthefactory,theyarehungryandcold.Everydaytheyarelivinginthesightsofenemyaircraft.Thewoundeddieeverydaybecausethereisnomedicine,nowater,nofood. "Iamturningtoyouforhelp,becausethetimehascomewhenprayersarenotenough.Helpsavethem." RelatedTopics Mariupol, Russia-Ukrainewar, Ukraine, Russia TwitterIcon FacebookIcon WhatsAppIcon EmailIcon Commentspeechbubbleicon Comments TheTelegraphvaluesyourcommentsbutkindlyrequestsallpostsareontopic,constructiveandrespectful.Pleasereviewour commentingpolicy. Youneedtobeasubscribertojointheconversation.Findoutmore here. LogIn Subscribe Showcomments Advertisement Morestories RelatedTopics Mariupol, Russia-Ukrainewar, Ukraine, Russia TwitterIcon FacebookIcon WhatsAppIcon EmailIcon Save Commentspeechbubbleicon MorefromWorldNews Chineserocket:NasacriticisesirresponsibleBeijingasboosterfallstoEarth By OurForeignStaff 31Jul2022,1:19am JoeBidentestspositiveforCovidagain By WillBolton 30Jul2022,8:58pm DemocratssplurgeonadsforTrumpcandidatesin‘cynical’electoralploy By JosieEnsor 30Jul2022,8:52pm ‘Darkclouds’gatheringforRussianJewswarnsformerMoscowchiefrabbi By JamesKilner 30Jul2022,7:15pm ExiledindependentRussianTVstationwantstosetup‘secretnetwork’ofjournalists By HenrySamuel 30Jul2022,6:47pm WarningRussiacouldusegrainexportsastrojanhorsetolaunchOdesaattack By DanielleSheridan 30Jul2022,5:35pm MorefromTheTelegraph We'venoticedyou'readblocking. Werelyonadvertisingtohelpfundouraward-winningjournalism. WeurgeyoutoturnoffyouradblockerforTheTelegraphwebsitesothatyoucancontinuetoaccessourqualitycontentinthefuture. Thankyouforyoursupport. Needhelp? Visitouradblockinginstructions page. Close