MARIUPOL, Ukraine – The city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea was controlled

by Kremlin-backed separatists in April-June 2014 and ran the risk of

being surrendered to them again in August, when regular Russian troops

invaded eastern Ukraine.The danger remains today.

Pro-Ukrainian activists and fighters say the risk is alive because of what they believe to be the complaisance and inaction of Ukrainian authorities. The defense of the city, which had a pre-war population of 500,000, is inadequate and military supplies are insufficient, they say.