On March 4, a man rides his bicycle in front of a shell-damaged residential building in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv. (Dimitar Tilkoff / AFP / Getty Images)
, 2022. – Forty-seven people are killed when Russian forces attack residential areas in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, including schools and a high-rise apartment building, officials say. (Photo: Dimitar Tilkoff / AFP)

Mayor of the Ukrainian city ChernihivKiev is halfway between the Russian border and said the population has halved since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at a virtual press conference on Saturday, Mayor Vladislav Atroshenko said there were between 120,000 and 130,000 residents in the city, compared to about 290,000 before Russia’s invasion, and that “the city is surrounded.”

Atroshenko said Russian forces “deliberately destroyed the only bridge connecting Chernihiv with the southern highway to Kiev.”

Atroshenko mentions Russian warplanes that destroyed a major bridge on March 23, making it one of the last remaining routes to connect with other Ukrainian-controlled areas.

The mayor said there were currently no evacuation routes and “there is no safe way to bring supplies, aid or injured people in or out.”

Atroshenko’s comments The city is trying to evacuate 44 people who were seriously injured. Most are affiliated with the military, but that number includes civilians, including three children.

Atroshenko said there were direct impacts on hospitals, including the Chernihiv district hospital, which were “destroyed.” Water and electricity supply have also been affected and water has been distributed by volunteers.

Chernihiv has seen heavy bombings since Russia invaded Ukraine four weeks ago.

In the most recent deadly attack, on March 16, people lined up to buy bread, killing at least 10 people, officials said.