Russia’s demand for Ukrainian forces in Mariupol to surrender by 3 a.m. GMT passed without immediate signs of response, as Vladimir Zelensky warned that peace talks would be suspended if other defenders of the city were killed.
As air raids sounded throughout Ukraine, including in the Kyiv region, early Sunday, Russia said its troops had cleared most of the besieged city, leaving only a small contingent of Ukrainian fighters at the giant Azovstal steel plant. southeastern port as missiles hit Kyiv and other cities.
If it falls, it will be the first capture of a large city from Russia.
The President of Ukraine said in a video address: “The situation in Mariupol remains as difficult as possible. Just inhuman … Russia is deliberately trying to destroy everyone who is there. He added: “The elimination of our troops, of our people [in Mariupol] will put an end to all negotiations “and called on the West to provide heavy weapons immediately.
The devastated city became a symbol of Ukraine’s unexpectedly fierce resistance after Russian troops invaded the former Soviet state on February 24.
Mikhail Fedorov, Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, said the city was on the brink of a “humanitarian catastrophe” and warned that the country was gathering evidence of alleged Russian atrocities there. “We will hand everything over to The Hague. There will be no impunity, “he said.
Reuters reporters reached the giant Ilyich steel plant, one of two metallurgical plants where defenders were trapped in underground tunnels and bunkers. They found that the factory had been turned into ruins of twisted steel and exploded concrete, without any traces of defenders present. Several bodies of civilians lay scattered in the nearby streets.
The mayor of Trostyanets, a Sumy region in northern Ukraine, says authorities have found the remains of chemical weapons in the Russian-occupied village of Bilka.
In front of the Ukrainian radio, the mayor Yuriy Bova said: “In the village of Bilka we found the remains of chemical weapons – sarin and other substances. We found ampoules. “The Security Service of Ukraine is currently working on this,” he said.
The Guardian could not confirm the claim.
Last week, Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing a “new phase of terror” that could include the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.
Last week, reports began circulating on social media that Mariupol residents had been subjected to a “toxic substance” that caused respiratory problems, but these could not be confirmed, and experts were skeptical of allegations that chemical weapons had been used.
Last week, Britain’s foreign minister, Liz Truss, said the UK was urgently investigating allegations of chemical weapons, while a Pentagon spokesman said the reports were “deeply troubling if true”.
Following the sinking of its flagship Black Sea ship Moscow, the Russian Defense Ministry released a video of the navy chief’s meeting with about 100 sailors he claims to be crew members in the first footage after the ship’s destruction. The crew of the rocket cruiser had about 500 people.
Admiral Nikolai Evmenov was shown at a meeting with personnel in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol and said he would continue to serve in the navy. It is not clear when the shots were taken.
Kyiv and Washington claim that the ship, whose sinking became a symbol of Ukrainian disobedience, was hit by Ukrainian missiles. Moscow says it sank after a fire and that all 500 crew members were evacuated.
Elsewhere, the eastern governor of Kharkiv province said at least one person had been killed and 18 injured in a rocket attack. Smoke rose from burning cars and the remains of what looked like an office building in the city.
In Nikolaev, near the southern front, Russia said it had hit a factory to repair military vehicles.
In other developments:
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Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich has traveled to Kyiv in a bid to resume peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to Bloomberg. The report, based on unnamed sources, says Abramovich met with Ukrainian negotiators in a bid to save the weakening talks. A spokesman for Abramovich denied the information.
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The mayor of Irpin, in the western part of Kyiv, says more than 70% of the city’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed by Russian forces, according to the Kyiv Independent. In a Telegram publication, Alexander Markushin said a UN study based on satellite data showed that 115 buildings were completely destroyed, 698 were significantly damaged and 187 were partially damaged.
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The upcoming sixth round of EU sanctions against Russia will target oil and banks, particularly Sberbank, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. The EU has so far spared Sberbank because, together with Gazprombank, it is one of the main payment channels for Russian oil and gas.
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