Russian soldiers taunt fleeing women by threatening to murder husbands & send them their heads in a box
RUSSIAN soldiers taunted women fleeing the horror of bomb-blitzed Mariupol by threatening to murder their husbands and send them their heads in a box.
Some of the wives and girlfriends of the city’s heroic defenders escaped from the Azovstal “Alamo” on a UN and Red Cross mercy mission.
But they were stopped and ordered to strip at multiple checkpoints where Russian troops hurled abuse, one told news website Ukrainian Pravda.
Katia, who escaped with two children, said: “Women who had acquaintances serving in the Ukrainian military or the police were threatened.
“They were promised that they would be sent their husband’s head in a box.
"We were undressed, any scars and tattoos were checked, and women’s underpants were searched.”
Read More on Ukraine war
Meanwhile, the besieged Azovstal steel plant’s last defenders appealed to their chain of command to get wounded comrades to safety.
Russian invaders were said to have breached the perimeter following a devastating air, land and sea bombardment.
The Kremlin denied it was an attempt to storm the plant, saying the bombings were to prevent the defenders moving to new positions.
Elsewhere, Ukraine troops launched counter attacks around Kharkiv and the city of Izyum where Russians are trying to build up forces.
Most read in World News
Help those fleeing conflict with The Sun’s Ukraine Fund
PICTURES of women and children fleeing the horror of Ukraine’s devastated towns and cities have moved Sun readers to tears.
Many of you want to help the five million caught in the chaos — and now you can, by donating to The Sun's Ukraine Fund.
Give as little as £3 or as much as you can afford and every penny will be donated to the Red Cross on the ground helping women, children, the old, the infirm and the wounded.
Donate to help The Sun's fund
Or text to 70141 from UK mobiles
£3 — text SUN£3
£5 — text SUN£5
£10 — text SUN£10
Texts cost your chosen donation amount (e.g. £5) +1 standard message (we receive 100%). For full T&Cs visit
The Ukraine Crisis Appeal will support people in areas currently affected and those potentially affected in the future by the crisis.
In the unlikely event that the British Red Cross raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help them prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world.
For more information visit