According to own sources of Pravda, the unblocking of Mariupol was possible in the first stages, but each day after the occupation it became less real.
The attempt took place after several weeks of Mariupol encirclement. Under the general command of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine a group, which was supposed to break into the city set off from the Hulyaipole region towards Mariupol.
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Initially, they were planned to be given more than 80 tanks and armored vehicles, however they collected only a few tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers (up to 20 units).
Nevertheless, the group set off towards Mariupol. They covered about 10-15 km, came across a fierce defense and were forced to retreat.
The Pravda sources emphasize that in order to succeed in deblocking the area, there had to be a simultaneous counter-attack of the Mariupol garrison along with the backup forces. But this became unrealistic after what the 36th Marine Brigade had done.
At first, on April 4, one battalion of the 36th brigade suddenly surrendered, and then unexpectedly, the commander of the 36th brigade, Volodymyr Baranyuk without warning decided to conduct a breakthrough in an unknown direction and thereby lost many people.
Also, according to the commander of the Azov Regiment Denis Prokopenko (Redis), many people were abandoned to fate, and they were simply captured.
Another source close to Azov said that the marines surrendered with tanks, with MLRS and ammunition, which weakened the defense forces.
After that, it became clear that de-blockade by small forces from the unoccupied territory, even in one direction, was impossible.
The article written by Iryna Balachuk for Pravda
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