Russian army quickly scattered attack on kievIn an explosive reminder to Ukrainians and their Western supporters in western Ukraine and then on Saturday, whole country is in danger Despite Moscow’s axis of movement towards a new offensive in the east.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that peace talks with Moscow would be terminated if the last Ukrainian soldier was killed in the besieged port city of Mariupol.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and many of Britain’s top cabinet ministers and politicians have been banned from Russia for their The “unprecedented hostile action” of imposing sanctions on the Ukraine conflict
The conflict began to intensify on February 21, 2022, after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognized separatist territory Deployed troops to eastern Ukraine and in a peacekeeping role.
Here are the latest updates:
Russian Ultimatum
Russian ultimatum to Ukrainian army in Mariupol expires
A Russian ultimatum for the surrender of the last remaining Ukrainian forces in Mariupol ends on Sunday, with Moscow poised for a major strategic victory in the southeastern port city
In Kyiv, Russian airstrikes attacked an ordnance factory, while Moscow shifted its military focus to gaining control of the eastern Donbass region and building a land corridor to already occupied Crimea.
“During the night, high-precision, air-launched missiles destroyed an ammunition factory near the settlement of Brovary, Kyiv region,” said Russia’s Defense Ministry, the capital. This is the third such air strike in as many days.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk urged Russian forces to allow evacuations from Mariupol, which Moscow’s military claims to be under its control, although Ukrainian fighters are hiding in the city’s fortress-like steelworks.
Moscow issued an ultimatum to fighters on Saturday, urging them to lay down their arms by 6:00 a.m. Moscow time (0300 GMT) and to evacuate before 13:00 p.m.
“Once again, we demand the opening of the humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians, especially women and children, from Mariupol,” wrote Vereshchuk.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said a budding negotiation process would end if Russian forces killed the remaining Kyiv soldiers defending the city, ending nearly two months of fighting.
Ukraine
Kyiv bans evacuation of civilians from eastern Ukraine
Ukraine said on Sunday it was halting the evacuation of civilians in the country’s east for a day after failing to agree terms with Russian forces.
“As of this morning, April 17, we have not been able to agree with the occupiers on a ceasefire on the evacuation routes. That is why, unfortunately, we are not opening the humanitarian corridor today,” wrote Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk in a statement on social media, referring to Moscow’s military.
Ukrainian authorities have urged people in the eastern Donbass region to move west to avoid a massive Russian offensive to capture their composite regions, Donetsk and Lugansk.
Vereshchuk also urged Russian forces to allow evacuations from the besieged and devastated port city of Mariupol, which Moscow’s military claims to be under their control.
“Once again, we call on Mariupol to open the humanitarian corridor for the evacuation of civilians, especially women and children,” he wrote. AFP
Russia
Russia says military factory outside Kyiv ‘destroyed’
Russia’s defense ministry said on Sunday it attacked a military plant outside Kyiv, as Moscow intensified its attacks on the Ukrainian capital.
“During the night, high-precision, air-launched missiles destroyed an ammunition factory near the settlement of Brovry, Kyiv region,” the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.
Brovari mayor Igor Sapozhko said in the early hours of Sunday morning “some infrastructure items were affected”. AFP
Bulgaria
Bulgaria bans Russian ships from ports
Bulgaria has banned Russian-flagged ships from entering its Black Sea ports as part of extended EU sanctions, the country’s maritime administration announced on its website on Sunday.
“All ships registered under the Russian flag, as well as all vessels that have changed their Russian flag, or flag or maritime registration in any other state after February 24, are restricted access to Bulgarian sea and river ports,” the authority said. he said .
Exceptions will be made only for ships in distress or humanitarian aid-seeking, or ships transporting energy products, food and pharmaceuticals to EU countries.- AP
United Kingdom
UK says Russia committed to forcing Ukraine to abandon its Euro-Atlantic orientation
British military intelligence said on Sunday that Russia is committed to getting Ukraine to abandon its Euro-Atlantic orientation and assert its own territorial dominance, even as Moscow’s operational focus shifted to its neighboring country’s east. It is done.
Russian forces were continuing to redeploy combat and support equipment from Belarus to eastern Ukraine, including locations close to Kharkiv and Severodonetsk, the UK Defense Ministry tweeted. Reuters
Ukraine
Explosions heard in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv – local media
Local media said explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, early on Sunday.
Throughout the night, air raid sirens sounded almost all over Ukraine.
There was no official explanation for the explosions and Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. , Reuters
Ukraine
Russia claims near-complete control as ‘inhumane’ situation in Ukraine’s Mariupol
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in Mariupol was “inhumane” and called on the West to immediately provide heavy weapons, as Russia claimed it was in control of almost all of the strategic port city and urged its last defenders to surrender. urged.
Moscow said Ukraine’s military should lay down its arms by Sunday from Russian air strikes after weeks of maintaining peace in the capital Kyiv.
Moscow officials say they have full control there, although Ukrainian fighters are hiding in the city’s fortress-like steelworks.
“The situation in Mariupol remains as serious as possible. Just inhumane,” President Zelensky said in a video address.
“Russia is deliberately trying to destroy everyone who is there.” , AFP
Ukraine
Zelensky wants to break the Russian blockade
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday he spoke with the leaders of Britain and Sweden on how to help those defending Mariupol and the thousands of civilians trapped inside the besieged city.
He added that Mariupol’s fate could be decided through war or diplomacy.
He said in his nightly video address to the nation, “Either our allies immediately give Ukraine all the necessary heavy weapons, aircraft and, without exaggeration, so we can reduce the pressure on the Mariupol occupiers and break the blockade.” can.”
“Or we do so through dialogue, in which the role of our partners must be decisive.” Zelensky said the situation in Mariupol remained “inhumane” and that Russia was “deliberately trying to destroy everyone there.” AP
Ukraine
Russia resumes attacks on Kyiv, Zelensky issues talks ultimatum
Russia resumed air strikes on Kyiv on Saturday, as President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that peace talks with Moscow would be terminated if the last Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the besieged port city of Mariupol.
Fresh bloodshed in Ukraine’s capital and mounting pressure on Mariupol came as Austria’s chancellor, the first European leader to meet in person with Vladimir Putin since the invasion began, said he felt the Russian president “trusted”. Let’s say he is winning the war”.
“The elimination of our soldiers, our soldiers (in Mariupol) will end any negotiations,” Zelensky told the Ukranska Pravda news website.
“We neither negotiate with our regions nor with our people.”- AFP
Russia
Russia fired from Ukrainian troops in Mariupol at 0300 GMT. asked to lay down arms
Russia told Ukrainian forces fighting in the southern port of Mariupol to lay down their arms by 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Sunday to save their lives.
Russia’s defense ministry said its troops had cleared the city of Mariupol, leaving only a small contingent of Ukrainian fighters inside a steelworks in the city on Saturday.
“Considering the appalling situation that had developed at the Azovstal Metallurgical Plant, as well as being guided by purely humanitarian principles, the Russian Armed Forces ordered militants and foreign mercenaries of the Nationalist battalions on April 17 at 06:00 (Moscow time). ), 2022, to stop any hostilities and lay down their weapons,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
“Whoever lays down arms is guaranteed that their lives will be spared,” it said, adding that the defenders can leave the plant without arms or ammunition by 10 a.m. Reuters
Russia
Russia announces the death of the general in the war
A Russian general whose troops besieged the Ukrainian port of Mariupol was buried on Saturday in St Petersburg after he died in battle, the governor said.
Major General Vladimir Frolov was deputy commander of the 8th Army, which Russian media identified as one of the forces that had beaten Mariupol for weeks.
Governor Alexander Beglov issued a statement saying that Frolov “died a heroic death in battle” without specifying where or when he was killed. AP
Ukraine
Ukraine’s richest man vows to rebuild besieged Mariupol
Ukraine’s richest man has pledged to help rebuild the besieged city of Mariupol, a place close to his heart where he owns two giant steelworks that will once again compete on the world stage.
Rinat Akhmetov has seen his business empire shattered by eight years of fighting in the east of Ukraine, but he is defiant.
Russia
Russia bans UK PM Boris Johnson, top Indian-origin ministers Sunak and Patel
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and many of Britain’s top cabinet ministers and politicians have been banned from Russia for their The “unprecedented hostile action” of imposing sanctions From above Ukraine conflictRussian Foreign Minister said in a statement on Saturday.
Ukraine
Russia disturbs Kyiv peace with fresh attacks
Russia intensifies airstrikes on Kyiv On Saturday, a day after Moscow warned of resuming attacks after two weeks of relative peace in the Ukrainian capital, another military factory was targeted.
smoke rising from Darnirsky District in the Southeast What Moscow said was followed by “high-precision long-range” attacks on the capital’s ordnance plant.