Slow death to them all, says Putin

KYIV: Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed the “liberation” of the flattened city of Mariupol after two months of fighting, demanding that its trapped Ukrainian defenders – and up to 2000 civilians – be sealed underground and left to die of starvation.

The loss of the besieged port now sees most of Ukraine’s coastline and its industrial heartland under Russian control.

But President Joe Biden said Mr Putin was doomed to failure, announcing $US800M in extra US military aid. “Our unity with our allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people, is sending an unmistakeable message to Putin – he will never succeed in occupying all of Ukraine,” he said.

Ukraine appealed for an immediate humanitarian corridor to allow civilians and wounded fighters to be evacuated from tunnels deep in the sprawling Azovstal steel plant.

“They have almost no food, water, or essential medicine,” the foreign ministry said.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu told Mr Putin during a televised meeting: “Mariupol has been liberated.”

He said around 2000 armed defenders remained inside the site. Ukrainian authorities say up to 2000 civilians are also trapped there.

Mr Putin ordered Mr Shoigu to call off the planned storming of the plant. “There is no need to climb into these catacombs and crawl underground. Block off this industrial area so not even a fly can escape,” he said.