President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that many Ukrainian pilots died during the defense of Mariupol.

" Unfortunately. Absolutely heroic people who knew that it was difficult, that it was almost impossible to fly. Fly to Azovstal, bring medicines, food, water, pick up the bodies of the wounded. All this happened,"

According to him, there were no air corridors to Azovstal due to the presence of Russian air defense.