Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov says there are more than 10,000 Russian soldiers near Mariupol who are trying to capture the city.

He told foreign journalists about this during a visit to the city of Gostomel, Kyiv region, destroyed by Russian invaders. The video of the meeting was posted on the Facebook page of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The head of the reverse department noted that Ukrainian soldiers continue to defend Mariupol.

They are still fighting and holding back their huge forces - more than 10 thousand Russian soldiers are near Mariupol

Oleksiy Reznikov

The mayor of Mariupol, Vadim Boychenko, stressed that the situation in Mariupol is difficult, but the city remains Ukrainian.