The capture of Mariupol, where Ukraine estimates 21,000 people have been killed, is seen as key, and not just because it would deprive Ukraine of a vital port and complete a land bridge between Russia and the Crimean peninsula.
Article source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/battle-for-the-donbas-explained_uk_625ddb5be4b0e97a352166e8