moon
Satire for Sanity
Russia-Ukraine war latest: Kremlin claims Mariupol captured by Russian forces with 1,478 Ukrainian soldiers surrendering – live
Russia’s defence minister says more than 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are still defending the Azovstal steel plant but that area has been securely blockaded
https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...r-attacks-live#block-626102e98f08c1667906bd43
Russian defence minister claims to have captured Mariupol – reports
Russia has claimed it has captured the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, with the exception of the Azovstal metallurgical plant, where about 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are holding out. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the plant to be blockaded, but cancelled plans to storm it.
Reuters is carrying flash quotes about the development from Russia’s defence minister Sergei Shoigu, via the Interfax news agency.
According to the reports, the defence minister has said:
Russia has captured Mairupol. The situation is calm, paving the way for the return of civilians.
Shoigu said that Russia evacuated more than 142,000 civilians from Mariupol.
He claimed 1,478 Ukrainian fighters have already given themselves up, but more than 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are still defending the Azovstal metallurgical plant.
He said the Azovstal plant is securely blockaded.
None of these claims have been independently verified. There has been no word yet from the Ukrainian side to confirm or deny them.
The reports further quote Putin congratulating Shoigu on a successful operation, and instructing that there is no need to storm the Azovstal plant, but that it should be blockaded so that not even “a fly” can pass.
Putin reiterated a Russian guarantee of the lives of those in the Azovstal plant if they give themselves up. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly decline to surrender their position there.
Updated at 08.24 BST
https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...r-attacks-live#block-626102e98f08c1667906bd43
Zelensky should now call it a day- or his generals should remove him.