Today’s been a really hard day for Viktoria — not that any day of the past two weeks has been particularly easy. This morning she was getting pictures and videos of Mariupol, including some taken very near to Zhenya’s apartment. One picture showed damage and burned out cars in the courtyard area of the apartment block; another was from across the main street, toward where her friend Olga lives. These are places near and dear to her, and seeing the destruction was difficult. (These are places I’ve seen or been to as well.) Then she learned that the pictures were actually from two days ago, and that just made things worse. I mean, if two days ago it was hell and nothing since has improved, what does that make today?

No humanitarian assistance today either. Not only did the convoy get attacked, when it wasn’t being attacked, it was being stopped and looted by those doing the attacking. I don’t know that there’s a depth to the evil and depravity these people can show.

Here are some assorted news articles for the day:

• Invaders plunder Mariupol-bound humanitarian convoy (ukrinform.net) – as I was saying
• Enemy aircraft bomb Sviatohirsk Lavra in Donetsk region (ukrinform.net) – This is the equivalent of bombing a cathedral, and there were civilians sheltering inside. Viktoria wanted us to take a vacation here sometime.
• At night in Mariupol, the Russian aggressor shelled Primorsky Park and a mosque where Turkish students are hiding (0629.com.ua) – in Ukrainian. The people of Mariupol loved this mosque; they were really proud when it was built. And it is very beautiful. Viktoria and I had our first meeting here.
• Horrific footage of Mariupol shelling from Russian tanks has circled the world – VIDEO 18+ (0629.com.ua) – in Ukrainian, but it’s the video you need to see. More proof of Russian war crimes. Tanks and the streets of Mariupol, firing at residential housing.
• Mariupol is in a “disaster phase now,” Doctors Without Borders emergency coordinator says (cnn.com)
• Humanitarian convoy heads for Mariupol (cnn.com)
• I can’t find it now, but I read something this morning that said the town of Volnovakha was essentially gone. Blasted to smithereens and overrun by the Russians. Katya 2’s father and grandmother were last reported in Volnovakha, and because communications have been done for over a week, their situation is not known.

UPDATE: 8:43 p.m. PST