Why is Mariupol so important?

Why is Mariupol so important

Russian forces are reported to have entered the Azovstal steelworks, the last hold-out of Ukrainian forces in the southern port city of Mariupol. Russia has besieged and bombarded the city for weeks. It is key to Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine. Qazet.az reports why?

• Land bridge: Control of the city gives the Russians a land bridge from Russia, through parts of the Donbas region held by Russian-backed separatists, right through to Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
• Hitting Ukraine's economy: Mariupol has long been a strategically important port on the Sea of Azov, part of the Black Sea. In normal times, the city is a key export hub for Ukraine's steel, coal and corn.
• Russian propaganda: Among Mariupol's defenders are the Azov Brigade, which has links to far-right extremists, historically including neo-Nazis. They form only the tiniest fraction of Ukraine's fighting forces, but their presence is often used as a pretext for Russia's claim to be ridding Ukraine of Nazis.
• Free up forces: An end to the prolonged battle for the city would release more of Russia's troops for its push to take control of the remaining parts of the Donbas in eastern Ukraine, made up of Luhansk and Donetsk.