Zelenskyy: Russians kill about 20,000 people in Mariupol

10:58, 27.01.2025 1 min read

It is currently impossible to determine the real death toll in Mariupol, according to available information, Russians killed about 20,000 people in the city, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"Not in Mariupol. I think it's really impossible to understand this without the relevant work right there on the spot. We had information that the Russians had killed about 20,000 people, but I can't say if this is true," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was released from Iranian captivity on January 8.

The President also noted that the Russians had captured thousands of people. Ukraine has managed to return four thousand, but there are still thousands of people in Russian captivity.

In addition, the Ukrainian side is aware that the Russians killed or imprisoned and tortured the entire civilian population who went on strike in Mariupol.

"It's hundreds, or thousands, or tens of thousands. In addition, there were hostilities there and a lot of people were injured or died under the rubble," Zelenskyy said.