After weeks of relentless attacks, Russia claims it has secured a major win in Ukraine by capturing the port city of Mariupol. Mariupol covers just a tiny area on the map, belying its immense significance for both Ukraine and Russia. With Mariupol under its control, there is nothing to stop Russia from establishing a land corridor linking Crimea and Donbas. Russia can also now redeploy its troops from Mariupol to other areas where Ukrainian resistance still needs to be quelled. According to Oleg Ustenko, an economic adviser to the Ukrainian president, Russia’s war has already forced some 50% of Ukrainian businesses to shut down.

Source: The Nation April 22, 2022 13:28 UTC