Breaking news: Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu announced that the Ukrainian city of Mariupol was seized. Shoigu informed Russian President Vladimir Putin that the city of Mariupol had been taken. It was learned that Putin congratulated Shoigu.
Chechen leader Ramazan Kadyrov warned earlier today that Mariupol would be captured by Russian forces. According to the latest information, the city of Mariupol, one of the most important points in the Ukrainian resistance, fell.
FIRST STATEMENT FROM PUTIN
Putin described the capture of Mariupol as a success. Putin assured that the Ukrainian soldiers leaving the Azovstal facility would spare their lives, saying they would be treated with respect.
On the other hand, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu, who informed Putin that Mariupol had been captured, said that the situation in the city was calm and the return of civilians was allowed.
Mariupol is the largest city captured by Russia since the beginning of the Ukrainian occupation.