Ukraine: The war continues...
Russia has pressed ahead with its offensive in the east and Western governments have promised Ukraine more military help. Here’s what you need to know about the war which nears 2 months
THE BATTLE FOR MARIUPOL
A commander of forces holding out at a steelworks in the besieged port city of Mariupol issued a desperate plea for help, saying his marines are “maybe facing our last days, if not hours”. “The enemy is outnumbering us 10 to one,” said Serhiy Volyna from the 36th Separate Marine Brigade
NEW PLANES
The Pentagon said that Ukraine recently received planes and parts to bolster its air force. Meanwhile, Norway has given Ukraine around 100 French-made Mistral anti-air missiles
DONBAS OFFENSIVE
Ukraine’s defence ministry said its troops have beaten back a Russian attack in the city of Izium, a gateway to the eastern Donbas region. Kyiv also claimed enemy losses in a Ukrainian counter-attack near the town of Marinka in the southern part of the Donbas, where pro-Russian separatists have been fighting government forces since 2014. Moscow said the focus of the second phase of its Ukraine offensive is the “liberation” of the entire Donbas, an area about twice the size of Belgium
EVACUATION
Ukraine has agreed with Russian forces to open a safe route for civilians to flee Mariupol, according to Deputy PM Iryna Vereshchuk. Writing on Telegram, she said the agreement covers women, children and elderly people and that evacuees will be taken to the Ukrainian-held city of Zaporizhzhia
5 MILLION FLEE UKRAINE
More than five million Ukrainians have now fled their country following the Russian invasion, the United Nations said. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said 5,034,439 Ukrainians have left since Russia invaded on February 24
EU CHIEF IN KYIV
EU chief Charles Michel said that there must be justice for war crimes committed by Russian forces. “In Borodianka. Like Bucha and too many other towns in Ukraine. History will not forget the war crimes that have been committed here. There can be no peace without justice,” the European Council head wrote on Twitter