As the clashes continued in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, Russia gave an ultimatum to the Ukrainian soldiers in the city until 13:00 local time, saying “surrender or die”. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmihal, in an interview with the US press, stated that the Ukrainian forces in Mariupol continued to fight and did not surrender, “The city (Mariupol) has not fallen yet. “We still have soldiers, so they will fight to the end and they are still in Mariupol,” he said. Noting that not a single big city fell in Ukraine, Shmihal said, “Only Kherson is under the control of Russian military forces, but all the remaining cities are under Ukrainian control.”
MORE THAN 900 SETTLEMENTS IN UKRAINE SAVE FROM OCCUPATION
Noting that some cities are “besieged but still under Ukrainian control”, Shmihal explained that more than 900 Ukrainian cities, towns and villages, which Russia has taken over since the start of the Russian attacks, have been liberated from occupation. “We are still fighting and we are currently fighting in the Donbass region, but we have no intention of surrendering,” Shmihal said.
“WE WILL FIGHT UNTIL WE WIN”
Stating that if a diplomatic way to end the attacks is possible, Ukraine would prefer this way, Shmihal stated that if Russia does not agree to negotiations, they will not surrender, they will not leave their lands and they will fight until they win the war.
THE RUSSIAN ARMY IS SUSPECTED TO BE PREPARED TO RELEASE MARIUPOL
It is presumed that the Russian army is preparing to launch a naval landing on Mariupol.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said in a statement that the Russian army continues to strike Mariupol with air strikes and that they are preparing for a naval landing, possibly to strengthen their forces in the city.
MARIUPOL IS KEY TO RUSSIA
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated in the early hours that if the Ukrainian troops in besieged Mariupol lay down their weapons, “their survival will be guaranteed.” Russian Army Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, on the other hand, told the Ukrainians who were surrounded at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol at 13:00 local time. He stated that they were given time to surrender.
Mariupol is key for Russia as it allows it to create a land corridor to Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, while the huge Azovstal steelworks, which covers more than 11 square kilometers, is known as the last major part of Mariupol still under Ukrainian control. (UAV)