According to Russia’s Defence Ministry Russian forces have captured the key strategic port city of Mariupol. Entire urban area of Mariupol cleared of Ukranian forces and only a few soldiers remain on its outskirts, Russia says. artillery, rockets and missiles have damaged most of Mariupol and the assoult still continues by the Russian Force. Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky says that contunuing siege of Mariupol will ruin attempts to negotiate an end to the war.
As Russia and Ukrain enters day 53 of the war Moscow renewed air strikes on Kyiv on Saturday. the port city on the Sea of Azov in Southeastern Ukraine. Mariupol has seen the worst fighting of the seven week long war. Atleast 160,000 civillians are trapped without electricity, water, food and medical supplies according to Mayor Vadym Boichenko, who puts death toll at 5,000.
In a statement, the Russian ministry said that the remaining Ukranian forces had been blockeded on the territory of a steel factory and that the only chance to save their lives would be to surrender. The southern city has not surrendered. Zelensky further said thatUkrain needs more support from the West to have a chance at saving Mariupol.
