To find his seriously ill mother in the bombed-out Mariupol... Yuriy Rubtsov from Olgynka was unable to start searching his mother for several weeks. She was recovering from a complex surgical operation in the Third Municipal Hospital of Mariupol, but contact with her was lost due to terrible shelling.

We still cannot believe this is happening. Since 2014, the situation in our Olgynka has not been really calm and quiet to a greater or lesser extent. The delimitation line is nearby, so shots and explosions were heard from time to time. But what has begun recently is beyond any comparison. This is a disaster. Our life has turned into hell in an instant.

Our place is close to Volnovakha. Our district centre has been under the most severe attack for the second week. It is literally being wiped out.

Yesterday, I was able to get through to a friend in Volnovakha. He said his house burned down, his dog was killed by shrapnel, and he and his family and children were staying in the basement for a week. This is a disaster.

And our place is in a disastrous situation too. The shelling does not stop. More and more buildings are destroyed. We would like leave for a safe place, but it is not clear where it is safe now. Iskanders are hitting all over the country.

And I still need to find my mum. On 20 February, she went to the hospital for an important surgical operation. She has cancer. This is in Mariupol. She received [medical] help there. On 22 February in the morning, we had our last telephone call with her. She told me that the operation was successful and after that we lost the contact with her. Well, you know that Mariupol is besieged now.

As soon as heavy fighting stops, I need to go there and look for my mother. I hope she is all right.