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HomeWorldLast stand in Mariupol: Ukrainians vow to 'fight to end', Russia offers...

Last stand in Mariupol: Ukrainians vow to ‘fight to end’, Russia offers new surrender deadline

Mariupol's fall would be major gain for Moscow, letting it connect territory it holds in Donbas to Crimea. Russia has made gains in city but Ukrainian forces continue to defend Azovstal plant.

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New Delhi: Russian forces have made significant gains in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, but Ukrainian troops, who continue to defend the Azovstal steel plant — one of the last strongholds still under their control in the port city — have vowed to “fight to the end”, according to reports.

On Wednesday, Moscow gave Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol a new ultimatum to surrender, after they had rejected a previous deadline.

“Russia’s armed forces, based purely on humanitarian principles, again propose that the fighters of nationalist battalions and foreign mercenaries cease their military operations from 1400 Moscow time (4.30 pm IST) on 20 April and lay down arms,” the Russian defence ministry was quoted as saying in a Reuters report.

Earlier, Russia had given the Ukrainian troops a deadline to lay down their weapons by 6am Moscow time (8.30am IST) and evacuate by 1 pm (3.30pm IST) on 19 April.

However, Ukraine troops promised to “fight to the end”, rejecting Moscow’s offer, according to a report by The Guardian.

If Mariupol falls, it would be a significant gain for Moscow owing to the port city’s strategic location. Mariupol is home to Ukraine’s largest trading port in the Sea of Azov, and control of it could help Russia connect territory it holds in the Donbas with Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, added the report.

Mariupol is among Ukrainian cities that have witnessed heavy fighting ever since Russia began its military offensive in Ukraine on 24 February.


Also Read: Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine makes this battle inevitably more violent, bloody and destructive: UN chief


‘Maybe facing our last days, if not hours’

In a video posted on Facebook late Tuesday, a Ukrainian marine commander who is part of the last defensive stand in the besieged city of Mariupol, shared the plight of the soldiers, adding that this could be their “final appeal” for help.

“This is our appeal to the world. This could be the last appeal of our lives. We are probably facing our last days, if not hours. The enemy is outnumbering us 10 to one. They have the advantage in the air, in artillery, in their forces on land, in equipment and in tanks,” said Major Serhiy Volyna, commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade.

He appealed to the international community to provide evacuation for troops and civilians trapped in the Azovstal steel plant. Roughly 1,000 civilians are reportedly hiding in underground shelters of the steel plant.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that peace negotiations would be scrapped if the remaining Ukrainian troops in Mariupol were killed.

In a video address last week, the Ukrainian President said: “The situation in Mariupol remains as severe as possible. Just inhuman … Russia is deliberately trying to destroy everyone who is there.”

“The elimination of our troops, of our men [in Mariupol] will put an end to any negotiations”, he added.

Sources told Reuters that in the coming days, US President Joe Biden is likely to announce a new military aid package — about the same size as last week’s $800 million package — for the Ukrainian forces.

Canada and the UK have also said they would send more weapons to Ukraine.

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)


Also Read: India at UNSC reiterates call for cessation of violence in Ukraine


 

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