Zelenskyy: Mariupol defenders holding back 10,000 Russian occupiers

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine said that the defenders of Mariupol are up against 10,000 Russian occupying troops. If the city can hold, the Russian troops will not be able to advance to the east of Ukraine

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, in a joint press conference with Karl Nehammer, Chancellor of Austria, on 9 April.

According to Zelenskyy: "Mariupol holds. How long will Mariupol hold? Our soldiers are there. Powerful, strong. Some of the strongest, you know this well. Today there are 10,000 Russian troops around them."

Details: The President of Ukraine added that this is an enormous trial for Mariupol’s defenders, but if they can hold Mariupol, those 10,000 Russians will remain there and will not be able to advance to the east of Ukraine, which Russia plans to capture.

Zelenskyy noted that he cannot predict how events will unfold in eastern Ukraine, where the Russian aggressor is gathering forces for an offensive operation. However, he did stress that he believes in Ukraine’s victory.