Russia applied the tactics of the wars in Chechnya and Syria to the siege of Mariupol. However, the Russian command is concerned about how long it will take to take the city.
This was reported by the British Defense Ministry on Twitter.
"The concerted Ukrainian resistance put Russian forces to a serious test and diverted men and equipment, slowing the Russian advance elsewhere," the report said.
At the same time, the attempted capture of Mariupol cost its residents dearly. Significant parts of infrastructure were destroyed and the population suffered significant losses.
"The strikes on populated areas within Mariupol correspond to Russia's approach to Chechnya in 1999 and Syria in 2016. This is despite the Russian Defense Ministry's February 24, 2022 statements that Russia would not strike cities or threaten the population of Ukraine," the British Defense Ministry said.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 17 April 2022
— Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 17, 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/x9XjnFUY7Y
#StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/81fxQPbOye
Recall that in Mariupol, besieged by Russian troops, Ukrainian defenders rejected the occupiers' ultimatum to surrender.