Huge concern for the large Greek communities in the wider Mariupolis area but also for all the inhabitants of this particular corner of Ukraine is expressed in ethnos.gr by the internationalist - economist Courage Eftychidis, who for the last 28 years has been living and working in the countries of the former Soviet Union, mainly in Russia and Ukraine.
As he says, Mariupol is defended by the tough Ukrainian Azov battalion, with which the Russians are unable to negotiate. Azov's battalion is currently mining blocks of Mariupol. If the members of the battalion choose to fight to a standstill, even hundreds of dead cannot be ruled out.
«Things are very difficult for the Greeks in the region. The Russian-speaking separatists of the eastern provinces took control of four more Greek villages. At the moment the road to Mariupol is open. I understand that the Ukrainians have chosen to barricade themselves inside the cities. What I don't understand is why they don't allow the civilians to leave.», stresses ethnos.gr Mr. Eftychidis.
The conversation with a senior Ukrainian
In addition, Mr. Eftychidis spoke with a high-ranking Ukrainian who assured him that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Kiev, in the government buildings block. It is the safest place in the country, being more fortified than even Berlin during World War II.
«From our conversation with a man I have known for many years, I understood that the morale of Ukrainians is very high. Also, while before the invasion Zelensky did not have a very high popularity among the people of the country, today he enjoys the trust of almost all Ukrainians. The people are imposing resistance. The high-ranking Ukrainian made me understand that the Russians may not be entering cities and deliberately hitting civilians, but they are nevertheless carrying out sabotage. There are cases where police cars and ambulances are stopped, take away vehicles and in some cases kill the crews, and also civilian vehicles.
«I don't understand what the Russians are doing»
Mr. Efthychidis also notes in ethnos.gr that he cannot understand what the Russians are doing. «I don't understand why they come in and out of the cities. I really can't understand what exactly Putin wants to do. I think it is more likely that he wants to keep the areas on the left bank of the Dnieper River, but also the coast of Ukraine up to Transnistria. On the coast he has some support force, but he is sure to face a guerrilla, but he will also create a 1,000-kilometre front. For example, he needs at least 10,000 policemen to control the situation inside Odessa if he takes it over,» Mr. Eftihidis notes.
«The Russian invasion was a huge mistake»
He describes the Russian invasion as a huge mistake, since the right that Putin had, as far as security issues are concerned, was lost by invading Ukraine.. «I think the invasion is a huge mistake. With it, Putin has put his country and the whole world on the ropes. With the invasion, Putin has managed to lose the right he had and the whole conciliatory part of the West. I take Macron as an example. I also consider Putin's recognition of the two republics of Donbass to be a big mistake. With this decision he has opened the can of worms. Any justification of Russian positions was lost with the first bomb on Ukrainian territory,» Mr. Eftihidis underlines.
