‘Bring my mother back home’, says daughter of captured Ukrainian paramedic
A Ukrainian military commander whose troops are surrounded by invading forces said he and his colleagues are their “last days, if not hours”.
Serhiy Volyna, who is defending the besieged city of Mariupol, said Vladimir Putin’s soldiers are outnumbering them ten to one and pleaded for help evacuating wounded civilians.
“This is our appeal to the world. This could be the last appeal of our lives,” he said in a video message. “We are probably facing our last days, if not hours.”
“The enemy is outnumbering us 10 to one. They have advantage in the air, in artillery, in their forces on land, in equipment and in tanks.”
Earlier, Ukrainian troops accused Russia of bombing a hospital sheltering up to 300 people in the besieged city of Mariupol.
The Russian military dropped heavy bombs on the steel plant and hit an “improvised hospital”, the deputy commander of the Azov regiment said.
The bombing of the hospital was also reported by Serhiy Taruta, the former governor of the Donetsk region. He said that the hospital shelters up to 300 people, including wounded troops, civilians and children.
We’re facing our ‘final hours’, says Ukraine military commander in Mariupol
A Ukrainian military commander whose troops are surrounded by invading forces said he and his colleagues are facing their “last days, if not hours”.
Serhiy Volyna, who is defending the besieged city of Mariupol, said Vladimir Putin’s soldiers are outnumbering them ten to one and pleaded for help evacuating wounded civilians.
“This is our appeal to the world. This could be the last appeal of our lives,” he said in a video message to the Washington Post. “We are probably facing our last days, if not hours.”
“The enemy is outnumbering us 10 to one. They have advantage in the air, in artillery, in their forces on land, in equipment and in tanks.”
Matt Mathers20 April 2022 11:19
‘No good outcome’ to war in Ukraine, Bill Browder says
There will be “no good outcome” to the war in Ukraine, Bill Browder said when asked how the next phase of the conflict might play out.
The American financier and Kremlin critic said the Russian president is someone who wants to “absolutely destroy his enemy.”
He suggested it is Putin’s “main gameplan” to take the conflict to Nato’s border in the neighbouring Baltic states.
Matt Mathers20 April 2022 11:01
Japan formally revokes Russia’s ‘most favoured nation’ status
Japan has formally revoked Russia’s “most favoured nation” trade status over its invasion of Ukraine, as Tokyo steps up sanctions amid revelations of the Russian military’s widespread atrocities against civilians.
The stripping of Russia’s trade status is Japan’s latest move against Moscow and was part of a list of sanctions measures Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced last month that also included a decision to expel eight Russian diplomats and trade officials.
The revocation of Russia’s trade status by Japan’s parliament, combined with other sanctions collectively imposed by other countries, is expected to intensify pressure on Russia, but the moves could also prompt reprisals from Moscow.
The revocation of the trade status applies to tariffs on all Russian imports, allowing Tokyo to impose higher duties on such products.
Matt Mathers20 April 2022 10:43
Putin’s troop continue ‘shooting at civilians’
Putin’s troops continue “shooting at civilians” during their fresh offensive in eastern Ukraine, a Ukrainian ambassador has said.
Olekseii Makeiev told LBC “nobody is safe in my country” amid the ongoing invasion.
He also accused the Kremlin of committing war crimes.
Matt Mathers20 April 2022 10:20
US will not send troops to Ukraine, ambassador says
The US will not send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia, America’s interim ambassador to the UK has said.
Amid a fresh Kremlin assault on eastern Ukraine, Philip Reeker said the US will continue to support Kyiv and Nato.
But US boots on the ground is not an option, he added. More comments from Mr Reeker below:
Matt Mathers20 April 2022 10:10
Ukraine aims to evacuate 6,000 from Mariupol
Ukraine hopes to send 90 buses to the besieged southern city of Mariupol on Wednesday to evacuate about 6,000 women, children and elderly people, the city’s mayor said on national television.
Mayor Vadym Boichenko, who has left Mariupol, said he hoped a preliminary agreement with Russia on establishing a safe corridor would be firmed up and hold.
He said about 100,000 civilians remained in Mariupol and that tens of thousands had been killed in the Russian siege of the city on the Sea of Azov.
Matt Mathers20 April 2022 09:53
Russia claims to hit more than 1,000 military facilities overnight
The Russian ministry of defence has said its forces hit 1,053 Ukrainian military facilities overnight, destroying 106 firing positions, Reuters reports.
The claims have not been independently verified.
Emily Atkinson20 April 2022 09:30
Increasing majority of Swedes back joining Nato
An increasing number of Swedish voters are in favour of joing Nato, a new poll by Demoskop has found.
Comissioned by the Aftonbladet newspaper, the poll showed that 57 per cent of Swedes now favour membership, up from 51 per cent in March.
Those opposed to joining fell to 21 per cent from 24 per cent, while those who were undecided dipped to 22 per cent from 25 per cent.
It comes as policy-makers in both Sweden and Finland weigh up whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should hail an end to decades of military neutrality.
Emily Atkinson20 April 2022 09:15
European Council chief arrives in Kyiv
President of the European Council Charles Michel has arrived in Ukraine’s capital for a surprise visit.
Accompanied by a photo taken at a train station, Michel tweeted: “In Kyiv today. In the heart of a free and democratic Europe.”
Emily Atkinson20 April 2022 08:58
‘A lot of people’ reportedly under rubble after heavy bombs dropped on steel plant
The deputy commander of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment has said that Mariupol’s Azovstal plant has been bombed out and destroyed almost completely.
Sviatoslav Palamar told Radio Svoboda that “heavy bombs” are being dropped on the plant, and “a lot of people” remain under the rubble.
He later confirmed there was an airstrike on the hospital inside the plant today, which he said left “many people” dead, reports The Economist.
Emily Atkinson20 April 2022 08:54