Russia demands surrender in Mariupol as pope laments ‘Easter of war”

By Alessandra Prentice and Natalia Zinets

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian troopers resisted a Russian ultimatum to put down arms on Sunday within the pulverised port of Mariupol, which Moscow mentioned its forces had virtually fully seized in what could be its greatest prize of the almost two-month conflict.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal mentioned troops in Mariupol had been nonetheless preventing regardless of a Russian demand to give up by daybreak.

“The town nonetheless has not fallen,” he informed ABC’s “This Week” programme, including that Ukrainian troopers proceed to regulate some components of the southeastern Ukrainian metropolis.

Russia mentioned on Saturday it had management of city areas, with some Ukrainian fighters remaining within the Azovstal steelworks overlooking the Sea of Azov.

Capturing Mariupol, the principle port within the Donbas area, could be a strategic prize for Russia, connecting territory held by pro-Russian separatists within the east with the Crimea area that Moscow annexed in 2014.

After failing to beat Ukrainian resistance within the north, the Russian navy has refocused its floor offensive on Donbas whereas sustaining long-distance strikes elsewhere together with the capital, Kyiv.

About 4 million Ukrainians have fled the nation, cities have been shattered and 1000’s have died because the begin of the invasion on Feb. 24.

The financial harm is important too – Shmyhal mentioned Ukraine’s funds deficit was round $5 billion a month and known as for Western governments to supply extra monetary assist.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned on Twitter he had mentioned guaranteeing Ukraine’s monetary stability and preparations for post-war reconstruction with Worldwide Financial Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.

Earlier, he posted on his Telegram account photos of destruction he mentioned had been akin to the “horrible occasions” of World Conflict Two.

“The occupiers will likely be liable for every little thing they did in Ukraine,” Zelenskiy mentioned.

‘CRUEL AND SENSELESS WAR’

Implicitly criticizing Russia, Pope Francis pleaded for an finish to the bloodshed and lamented the “Easter of conflict” throughout his tackle in St. Peter’s Sq. after Mass.

“Could there be peace for war-torn Ukraine, so sorely tried by the violence and destruction of the merciless and mindless conflict into which it was dragged,” he mentioned.

Zelenskiy accused Russia on Saturday of “intentionally attempting to destroy everybody” in Mariupol and mentioned his authorities was in contact with the defenders.

The Azovstal steelworks, considered one of Europe’s greatest metallurgical crops with a maze of rail tracks and blast furnaces, has develop into a final stand for the outnumbered defenders.

“All who lay down their arms are assured that their lives will likely be spared,” Russia’s Defence Ministry mentioned.

It was not identified what number of troopers had been within the steelworks. Satellite tv for pc photos have proven smoke and hearth coming from the world, which is replete with tunnels. Zelenskiy has mentioned killing his troops would put an finish to peace efforts.

Russia mentioned Ukraine had misplaced greater than 4,000 troopers in Mariupol as of Saturday. Kyiv says its whole troop losses nationwide thus far within the conflict are lower than that, between 2,500 and three,000. Reuters has not been capable of confirm both aspect’s figures.

Russia calls its motion a particular navy operation to demilitarise Ukraine and eradicate what it calls harmful nationalists. The West and Kyiv accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of unprovoked aggression.

A consultant in Mariupol of the Azov forces – a one-time far-right militia now a part of Ukraine’s Nationwide Guard whose destruction is amongst Moscow’s conflict aims – mentioned worldwide intervention was wanted to assist civilians, together with kids, sheltering on the Azovstal plant.

“There are civilians at Azovstal who’re afraid of Russia’s ensures for his or her exit,” the Azov consultant mentioned in a message to Reuters.

Reuters has not been capable of confirm if there are vital numbers of civilians on the plant.

There have been on-off negotiations between Ukraine and Russia because the begin of the conflict.

Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned in a CBS Information interview on Sunday there had not been any latest communications between Russia and Ukraine at a overseas ministry degree, and that the state of affairs in Mariupol, which he described as “dire”, could possibly be a “crimson line” within the path of negotiations.

NATIONWIDE ATTACKS

Elsewhere in Ukraine, there have been extra studies on Sunday of Russian strikes round main inhabitants centres.

Native media reported an explosion in Kyiv, although deputy mayor Mykola Povoroznyk mentioned air defence techniques had thwarted Russian assaults. The mayor of Brovary metropolis, near Kyiv, mentioned a missile assault had broken infrastructure.

Russia mentioned it had destroyed an ammunition manufacturing facility close to the capital, in line with the RIA information company.

Shelling in Ukraine’s second greatest metropolis, Kharkiv, killed 5 folks and injured 13, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported. A Reuters correspondent in Kharkiv heard a number of explosions in fast succession and noticed particles from missiles.

As cleanup operations continued in areas the place the Russians have retreated, Ukraine’s human rights ombudswoman mentioned virtually all high-rise buildings within the city of Okhtyrka had been unfit for occupation. The State Emergencies Service mentioned 41 our bodies had been recovered within the city of Borodyanka.

Most Ukrainians have fun Orthodox Easter subsequent Sunday, however in Bucha, a city north of Kyiv the place Ukraine accuses Russia of killing dozens of civilians, some 50 folks attended a church service, carrying pussy willow and praying for the lifeless.

Russia denies concentrating on civilians and has known as photos from Bucha pretend.

“I simply prayed in the present day to cease crying,” mentioned resident Evgeniya Lebedko after the service. “We have now survived these horrors and we’re always crying.”

Regardless of the determined state of affairs in Mariupol, Ukraine mentioned it was holding off Russian forces in different components of the Donbas areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, which earlier than the invasion had been already partly managed by Russian-backed separatists.

On Sunday, police in Donetsk area mentioned that over the previous 24 hours Russian forces opened hearth on 13 settlements underneath Ukrainian management, killing two civilians.

(Reporting by Reuters journalists in Kyiv and Lviv; and Reuters bureaus worldwide; Writing by Andrew Cawthorne and Michael Martina; Enhancing by Nick Macfie, Frances Kerry, Helen Popper and Grant McCool)