As airstrikes sounded across Ukraine, including the Kiev region, early Sunday, Russia said its troops had cleared most of the besieged city, with only a handful of Ukrainian fighters remaining at the Azeri steel plant. in the southeast port. , as missiles hit Kyiv and other cities. If it falls, it would be the first occupation of a large city by Russia. The President of Ukraine stated in a video clip: “The situation in Mariupol remains as serious as possible. “It’s just inhumane. Russia is deliberately trying to destroy everyone there.” He added: “The elimination of our troops, of our men [in Mariupol] will put an end to all negotiations “, and called on the West to immediately supply heavy weapons. The devastated city has been a symbol of Ukraine’s unexpectedly fierce resistance since Russian troops invaded the former Soviet state on February 24. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine’s minister of digital transformation, said the city was on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe and warned that the country was gathering evidence of alleged Russian atrocities there. “We will deliver everything to The Hague. “There will be no impunity,” he said. Reuters reporters arrived at the giant steel mill Illich, one of two metal factories where defenders had dealt with underground tunnels and warehouses. They found that the factory had been turned into a ruin of twisted steel and grafted concrete, with no sign of defenders. Several bodies of civilians were scattered in nearby streets. The mayor of Trostianets, a town in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, said authorities had found the remains of chemical weapons in the Russian-occupied village of Bilka. Speaking on Ukrainian radio, Mayor Yuri Bova said: “We found chemical weapons debris in the village of Bilka-sarin and other substances. We discovered ampoules. “The Security Service of Ukraine is currently working,” he said. The Guardian could not confirm the allegation. Last week, Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing for “a new phase of terror” that could include the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. Reports began circulating on social media last week that a “toxic substance” had been used on Mariupol residents causing respiratory problems, but could not be confirmed and experts were skeptical of claims that chemical weapons had been developed. Last week, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the United Kingdom was urgently investigating the chemical weapons allegations, and a Pentagon spokesman said the reports were “deeply troubling if true.” Following the sinking of its Black Sea flagship, Moskva, the Russian Ministry of Defense released a video of the navy chief meeting about a hundred sailors who claimed to be crew members, in the first video shown since the shipwreck. The missile cruiser had a crew of about 500 people. Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov appeared to meet the personnel at the Crimean port of Sevastopol and said that they would continue to serve in the Navy. It is not clear when the video was taken. Kyiv and Washington say the ship, whose sinking has become a symbol of Ukrainian disobedience, was hit by Ukrainian missiles. Moscow says it sank after a fire and that all 500 crew members were evacuated. Elsewhere, the governor of Kharkiv Oblast in the east said at least one person had been killed and 18 wounded in a rocket attack. Smoke was coming from the burning cars and the remains of an office building in the city. In Mykolaiv, near the southern front, Russia said it had hit a military vehicle repair plant. In other developments:
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich traveled to Kyiv in a bid to resume peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to Bloomberg. The report, based on unnamed sources, said Abramovich had met with Ukrainian negotiators in a bid to save the talks. A spokesman for Abramovich denied the report. The mayor of Irpin, on the western edge of Kiev, says more than 70% of the buildings in the city have been destroyed or destroyed by Russian forces, according to the Kyiv Independent. In a Telegram post, Oleksandr Markushin said a UN study based on satellite data showed 115 buildings were completely destroyed, 698 were severely damaged and 187 were partially damaged. The next sixth round of EU sanctions on Russia will target oil and banks, especially Sberbank, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. The EU has so far saved Sberbank because, together with Gazprombank, it is one of the main payment channels for Russian oil and gas.