The plant is under artillery fire and is also attacked by ground troops.
(Photo: via REUTERS)
Dusseldorf According to Ukrainian information, the offensive announced by Russia in eastern Ukraine has begun. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed in an interview with India Today on Tuesday afternoon that a new phase of the mission in Ukraine had begun.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address Monday evening that “the battle of Donbass” had begun. Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak spoke of a “second phase of the war”. In recent days, Russia has been beefing up its armed forces in eastern Ukraine, drawing troops from northern Ukraine and neighboring Belarus.
According to the Moscow Defense Ministry, the Russian air force has bombed 60 military objects in Ukraine since Monday. Among them were two Ukrainian camps for “Tochka-U” missiles southeast of the embattled city of Kharkiv, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov, said in Moscow on Tuesday.
A Ukrainian MIG-29 fighter jet was shot down south-west of Kharkiv. A total of 1,260 military objects in Ukraine were shelled with artillery during the night. The information could not initially be verified by an independent party.
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During the night, Ukrainian positions in Donbass and the Kharkiv region were attacked from the air with precision missiles, it said. According to Russian information, troop concentrations and military equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces near the towns of Barvinkove, Slowjansk and Popasna were also fired upon.
Mariupol is in danger of falling into Russian hands
The Ukrainian port of Mariupol, which has been heavily contested for weeks, is now in danger of falling completely into the hands of Russia. According to pro-Russian separatists, the storming of the Azovstal steelworks has begun.
The steel mill is located in the southeast of the city.
(Photo: AP)
According to Russian information, around 2,500 fighters are said to have holed up there, including 400 foreign mercenaries. According to Ukrainian media, around 1,000 civilians are said to be staying in the plant, including women and children.
Regarding the storming of the steelworks, the pro-Russian separatist representative Eduard Bassurin told state media in Moscow on Tuesday that special troops had been put together and started work. Russian air force and artillery support them. All parts of Mariupol have already been taken.
Zelensky: “Battle for Donbass has begun”
Russia is said to have issued another ultimatum to the Ukrainian fighters trapped in the plant on Tuesday. The Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday in Moscow that they would have the opportunity to cease the fighting and lay down their weapons at the beginning of 12:00 p.m. (11:00 a.m. CEST). Then her life would be saved, it said.
Ultimatum for soldiers in Stahlwerk is valid until 4 p.m
Ukraine has failed for the third day in a row to get Russia’s consent to establish humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians trapped in cities, said Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. “Unfortunately, today, April 19, there are no humanitarian corridors,” she wrote on Facebook.
The Russian troops want to force the decision in the battles for the port city.
(Photo: AP)
Ukrainian officials criticized the fact that Russia had turned down requests to set up a humanitarian corridor there so that civilians who had taken refuge in the steelworks could get to safety. The Russian Defense Ministry has denied reports that there are women, children and other civilians there.
The government in Kyiv was called on to “use common sense and give the fighters appropriate instructions to end this senseless confrontation”. If there is no order from Kyiv, the soldiers and mercenaries should give up of their own accord. Like other fighters in Mariupol who would have surrendered should they go into Russian captivity, it said.
According to this, a dedicated line for communication between the Russian and Ukrainian sides should be set up from 1 p.m. (12 p.m. CEST). After that, a cease-fire was to come into effect from both sides. For this purpose, the Ukrainian side should affix white flags to the steelworks. From 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. CEST) the fighters and mercenaries would have time to leave the plant unarmed.
At the weekend, Russia said it had given the entrenched Ukrainians an ultimatum, assuring them that the fighters would live if they laid down their arms and surrendered. However, the Ukrainian soldiers refused and announced that they would resist. Russia had previously threatened them with “annihilation”. If this happens, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has threatened to end negotiations with Russia to end the war.
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Mariupol is considered a strategically important city. It is Ukraine’s last entry into the Sea of Azov. The pro-Russian separatists, who have proclaimed people’s republics in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, are hoping for permanent access to the world’s oceans.
West wants to discuss how to proceed
In view of the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, US President Joe Biden wants to discuss further action with western allies on Tuesday. “The President will convene a video call with allies and partners to discuss our continued support for Ukraine and our efforts to hold Russia to account, as part of our close coordination,” the Presidential Office said in Washington.
In Germany, the debate about a rapid delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine continues, as demanded by the FDP, Greens and Union. The SPD and Chancellor Olaf Scholz continue to hesitate.
The US President has announced that he will consult with Western allies.
(Photo: AP)
The designated FDP general secretary, Bijan Djir-Sarai, is expecting a decision from the federal government on the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine in the coming days. “In my view, it is necessary for this decision to be made soon,” said Djir-Sarai on Deutschlandfunk. But it is correct that Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) is aiming for an internationally coordinated decision.
The federal government provided an additional two billion euros for military equipment on Friday. More than a billion euros are said to go to Ukraine. The United States had provided weapons worth $800 million in the past few weeks. However, the Union criticized that the money from Germany did not lead to a quick delivery of weapons. The Union announced that it would submit an application to the Bundestag if necessary.
With agency material from dpa and Reuters
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