Russia-Ukraine war live updates: Putin claims Mariupol 'success,' tells forces not to storm Azovstal steel plant
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed "success" in Mariupol but ordered his forces not to storm the site where the last pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the besieged port city is holding out.
Ukrainian officials said Thursday that an apparent mass grave in a village outside the devastated city may contain as many as 9,000 bodies.
Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko compared the site to the Kyiv ravine where Nazi forces killed an estimated 33,000 Jews in 1941.
"The biggest war crime of the 21st century was committed in Mariupol," he said. "This is the new Babi Yar. Hitler then killed Jews, Roma and Slavs. And now Putin is destroying Ukrainians."
Ukrainian forces have held out under weeks of heavy bombardment that has devastated much of Mariupol and prompted international condemnation of Moscow's tactics. Kyiv has been desperately seeking ways to evacuate the soldiers and thousands of civilians still trapped in the city without much food or aid.
The fate of Mariupol and the broader Russian offensive in the east have prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to call again on his country's allies for urgent supplies of weapons — an appeal the United States looks set to meet, with President Joe Biden announcing a new $800 million military aid package in remarks Thursday morning.
Zelenskyy: Nations need to prepare for 'complete severance of any relations with Russia'
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he told the World Bank that his country needs support and called for further isolation of Russia.
"Every country in the world needs to prepare now for the possible complete severance of any relations with Russia," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president said he told the World Bank, which is an international organization that mainly lends money to developing nations, that Ukraine needs five things.
Among them were support, as well as the exclusion of Russia from international financial institutions, a tax targeting Russia and transactions to help pay for rebuilding Ukraine after the war. Zelenskyy said Russia is the aggressor and should pay for violating global stability.
World Bank President David Malpass said that the physical damage to Ukraine's buildings and infrastructure from Russia's invasion is estimated at $60 billion and will increase as the war continues, Reuters reported.
Vice President Harris: Invasion of Ukraine will be 'strategic failure for Russia'
Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday that Russia's attack on its neighbor Ukraine will prove to be a failure for Moscow.
The United States, the European Union and other countries have imposed tough sanctions on Russia in response to the Feb. 24 invasion, which many countries have condemned as unprovoked and unjustifiable. Russia has also been accused of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
"Let's be very clear about where we stand in terms of Russia: As far as I'm concerned — and I think, objectively, many people will agree — that their invasion of Ukraine has not only been steeped in atrocities, but will prove to be a strategic failure for Russia," Harris said in San Francisco.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced $800 million in new military assistance for Ukraine, including 72 more howitzers and 144,000 artillery rounds.
Russia has suffered setbacks in its attack, and it announced an offensive focused on Ukraine's east this month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared victory in the besieged and devastated city of Mariupol. Some Ukrainian soldiers — and civilians — are holed up in a steel plant there.
Harris made the comments the same day Russia's foreign ministry announced measures to ban her and some other U.S. officials from traveling to Russia. Biden was prohibited from entering Russia in March.
Asked by a reporter if the Russians would consider allowing Ukrainian civilians and troops safe passage out via humanitarian corridors now that the city was "under the influence of the Russian military," Peskov corrected the reporter.
"Not under the influence, but under complete control," he said.
Some Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are still holding out in the Azovstal steel plant. Putin has ordered Russian forces not to storm the plant.
Peskov added that there was still a chance for trapped Ukrainians to flee the city.
"There was, and still, is an opportunity for Ukrainian servicemen to lay down their weapons and walk out through the corridors."
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Seems to be some repetition recently.
Perhaps the reason that Putin called off storming the works was the two days before when they attempted it they lost three tanks, two APCs, and other types of vehicles along with dozens of so-called soldiers (butchers is more fitting)
Yes, holding has been costly and Ukrainian reinforcements were on their way. What I suspect will happen is that Ukraine will retake what's left of that city and cut Russian forces in half between Crimea and the Donbas again. That will be a costly measure for both sides. I don't know how Ukraine will fare in open countryside warfare, but now that they are getting better offensive weapons and training it might go better.
I'm super all out surprised that NATO hasn't been drawn into actual fighting by now.
This whole conflict is because of Putin's fear of NATO. He'll step on the line involving NATO, but he will not cross it.
I predict that Putin will be canceled by years end. Either by a sane military officer, or by an operative of one of the uber rich Russian oligarchs. Opposition to Putin's war crimes will assuredly grow among the Russian people
Depends on how tight a lid he can keep on the news media in Russia trying to convince the average Russian on the street that everybody but Russia are the bad guys. Western leaders just cannot seem to grasp the idea that Putin is playing them like a fine tuned Stradivarius violin. He has zero intentions of reaching any peace deal that does not give him all that he wants as far as territorial expansion. He is taking a page from pre WW II Adolf Hitler and Europe is scared of what Putin will do and do not want to exacerbate the situation and that's just fine with Vicious Vlad. He may be crazier than a out house rat, but he is not stupid. Now Lukoshenko next door is in fact a idiot...
The Marines used jellied gasoline to clear tunnels in the Pacific Theater during World War II. That was tedious, messy, and demoralizing but relatively safe for the Marines. What tactical advantage would be obtained by clearing the tunnels under this steel plant? At this point the hold outs are a nuisance and not a threat.
If the Kyiv government can get supplies in to these hold out fighters then why can't the Kyiv government bring out civilians? Or is resupply a one-way trip? That wouldn't seem to be a morale booster for Ukrainian forces. Although it could be a useful punitive threat against Ukrainian forces; follow orders or be sent to Mariupol.
So, who is going to lead the humanitarian effort? Someone needs to acknowledge that Mariupol is now under Russian control and focus attention on humanitarian needs rather than fighting. The Kyiv government won't because it would be a signal of defeat. The Russians can't because they are the enemy and continued nuisance fighting makes establishing civil authority much more difficult. Mariupol is a port city so it should be possible to get Red Cross ships in to the city unless the Ukrainians have mined the approaches and harbors. That would seem to be a job for the United Nations. So, where are they?
""There was, and still, is an opportunity for Ukrainian servicemen to lay down their weapons and walk out through the corridors.""
... and disappear in the night.
Yep, in mass grave most likely.
Based on the recent past as far as Putin is concerned, trusting or having faith in anything he says is like putting one's faith in a pit viper not to bite you!