Kiev: Russia claims complete occupation of Ukraine’s strategic port city of Mariupol. Russia sees this as a decisive victory for Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the complete liberation of the Azovstall steel plant. Within weeks, 2439 Ukrainian fighters had defended themselves against Russian forces inside the factory.
The Azov Regiment defended itself at the steel factory. Russia has said it has removed Commander Azov from the factory in an armored vehicle. Russia has threatened to prosecute some members of the defense forces for war crimes, branding them Nazis and criminals. The Ukrainian military has not commented on Russia’s claim on Mariupol.
It is estimated that more than 20,000 civilians have been killed so far in the Russian offensive in Mariupol. Large-scale shelling is taking place in the Luhansk region. Ukraine says school was destroyed in the attack. Meanwhile, the Russian company Gazprom has stopped supplying natural gas to Finland, which is preparing to join NATO. The company claims that this is due to the non-transaction of the Finnish ruble.
Russia has announced a travel ban on 963 U.S. citizens, including US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and CIA chief William Burns. Biden approves $ 40 billion in US military aid to Ukraine