Russia has issued an ultimatum to Ukrainian troops in Mariupol urging them to lay down their arms at 6 a.m. if they want to save their lives. It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Saturday night that Russia was “deliberately trying to destroy everyone” in Mariupol. Russia, meanwhile, continues to seek revenge across Ukraine following the sinking of its Black Sea flagship, Moskva. Here are the latest developments.
1. Russia tells Ukrainian troops in Mariupol to “surrender and live”
The Russian Defense Ministry has set a deadline for Ukrainian forces still fighting in the besieged southern port of Mariupol to lay down their arms at 6 a.m. Moscow time (03:00 GMT) on Sunday to save their lives. Moscow has said that the remaining fighters in Mariupol – which it says are both Ukrainians and foreigners – are blocked at the Azovstal steel plant. “Taking into account the catastrophic situation at the Azovstal metallurgical plant, as well as on the basis of purely human principles, the Russian Armed Forces offer nationalist fighters and foreign mercenaries from 06:00 (Moscow time) on April 17, 2022. “to stop any hostilities and lay down arms,” the defense ministry said in a statement. “Everyone who lays down their arms is guaranteed that their lives will be saved.”
